The Villains bracket continues, as we attempt to discover the largest villain in Spurs historical past. We’ve already coated Spurs Killers and Soiled Gamers. This time we’ll talk about probably the most bittersweet area: Former Spurs. We’ll take a look at gamers who as soon as wore Silver and Black however, by their actions or their phrases, earned the ire of the followers that after rooted for his or her success.
For this train, we’ll focus solely on the basketball aspect of issues and never their private lives or authorized troubles, so some names you anticipated to see will seemingly be lacking.
Now Let’s take a look at the sphere, and don’t overlook to vote!
1. Kawhi Leonard vs. 8. Marcus Morris
Unsurprisingly, The Nephew will get the highest seed. You already know the story. Leonard was incredible for the Spurs within the first years of his profession, reinvigorating an getting older crew and serving to the Silver and Black increase their fifth banner. Then he obtained injured within the playoffs in 2016 by fellow Spurs villain Zaza Pachulia, and nothing was the identical.
A quadriceps damage restricted Leonard the next 12 months, and he distrusted the crew’s medical personnel who cleared him. He went to rehab in New York and prevented folks from the franchise, really hiding after they tried to inspect him. The rumors from his camp began flying, and so they painted the Spurs in a foul mild. As the connection obtained worse, and with the assistance of Uncle Dennis Robertson, he compelled his means out within the messiest means potential after suiting up for simply 9 video games in 2017/18.
Regardless of the horrible ending, Kawhi no less than had some nice moments with the franchise. His first-round opponent by no means wore the jersey. Technically, he was by no means formally a Spur, and the truth that he used that technicality is what makes him a villain.
Morris agreed to phrases with the Spurs earlier than the 2019/20 season. Shams Charania introduced the information, and it regarded prefer it was a finished deal that may be finalized shortly after. It by no means occurred, as Morris reneged on the deal to affix the Knicks as an alternative.
The betrayal left the franchise in a precarious place, as a result of after agreeing to phrases with Morris utilizing the mid-level exception, the entrance workplace engineered a commerce sending out Davis Bertans, who had been useful within the common season, and bringing in DeMarre Carroll whereas opening a roster spot. As soon as Morris backed out, they discovered themselves with out Bertans and with no mid-level exception goal late within the offseason, and needed to accept Trey Lyles.
The 2019/20 was not going to win a title it doesn’t matter what however was made worse by Morris getting chilly ft and never honoring his phrase.
2. Stephen Jackson vs. 7. Dennis Rodman
One other once-beloved and profitable Spur who has finished his finest to lose each ounce of goodwill with the fanbase as a excessive seed. Jackson discovered his place as a starter for the 2023 title crew, making large performs within the postseason, however sadly, he refused to signal a profitable extension with the Spurs, hoping to get extra money as a free agent.
Nonetheless, the followers beloved Jackson and had been completely satisfied when he discovered his means again in 2012. Jack was within the tail finish of his profession however nonetheless contributed within the playoffs. The subsequent 12 months, nonetheless, issues took a flip. Jackson actually struggled and noticed his minutes lowered. Jackson wasn’t completely satisfied about it. To unravel issues, Gregg Popovich known as him into a gathering during which he requested him to just accept that he was not higher than Manu Ginobili, however Jackson refused to do it and was unceremoniously minimize. He retired a 12 months later and has spent his whole profession as a podcaster criticizing the Spurs each probability he will get.
A fast take a look at the numbers and the accolades would counsel Rodman’s Spurs years had been good. He led the league in rebounding and made All-Defensive groups. The issues, as they sometimes did with him, didn’t should do along with his abilities however his perspective.
Rodman clashed with then-coach Bob Hill, whom he by no means revered, and basic supervisor Gregg Popovich, whom he later claimed hated him. He routinely skipped shootarounds and didn’t listen in huddles. Rodman began his second season suspended for conduct detrimental to the crew and was benched in Sport 5 of the 1995 Convention Finals after arriving late to observe. It was such a horrendous tradition match that even the usually diplomatic David Robinson really stated he was glad Rodman obtained traded.
What made all of it damage extra was that Rodman went on to assist the Bulls win the titles the Spurs hoped he’d assist The Admiral win.
3. Robert Horry vs. 6. Derek Anderson
Identical to Leonard and Jackson, Robert Horry was as soon as an integral a part of title groups in San Antonio, and identical to them, he has gone out of his strategy to squander the love and respect his success earned him from the fanbase. Ever since retiring, he has taken each alternative to downplay the excellence of Tim Duncan, as soon as saying that Hakeem Olajuwon was “20 occasions higher” than The Large Basic and criticizing his work ethic. In the identical section, he took pictures at Manu Ginobili.
He just lately stated Victor Wembanyama isn’t a high 5 participant within the league, and never near different greats. There have been different feedback over time about his teammates. At this level, it’s simply clear he has no love for the franchise.
Horry’s opponent on this spherical is somebody who broke followers’ hearts not along with his phrases however along with his actions. Anderson had a terrific 2000/01 season with the Spurs. The guard began all 82 video games and was the crew’s second-leading scorer behind Tim Duncan. Regardless of playoff struggles and an damage, the Spurs wished to deliver the 27-year-old again to assist an getting older San Antonio core proceed to contend. They supplied the journeyman a six-year deal, however Anderson wasn’t pleased with how lengthy it took for the crew to barter with him and refused it, verbally agreeing to a take care of the Path Blazers as an alternative and leaving the Spurs with no selection however to commerce him for an getting older Steve Smith.
Issues didn’t work out for Anderson in Portland, so there’s a case to be made that the Spurs dodged a bullet, however on the time it felt like Anderson let his satisfaction wreck what may have been a fantastic partnership.
4. Richard Jefferson vs. 5. Dejounte Murray
Jefferson’s Spurs tenure could possibly be kindly described as simply unlucky. The crew thought he’d be the 3-and-D wing San Antonio wanted, and he merely wasn’t. The expertise of watching Jefferson, nonetheless, was extraordinarily unenjoyable.
Jefferson was a disappointment and regarded so misplaced that Gregg Popovich personally supervised his exercises in the summertime of 2010, hoping to make issues work. They didn’t, and Jefferson turned an overpaid specialist who couldn’t actually be trusted in large moments. The Spurs needed to really connect a first-rounder to get him off the books on a commerce. What makes all of it worse is that regardless that the Spurs unarguably prolonged his profession by serving to him transition from quantity scorer to function participant, he has seemingly taken pictures on the franchise in his post-retirement media profession.
Dejounte Murray’s tenure was utterly totally different. He was a late first-round choose who exceeded expectations, and there was real fan pleasure in regards to the duo of Murray and Derrick White changing into the backcourt of the long run. Sadly, the Spurs had been by no means significantly good with Murray, and when the Hawks got here in with a commerce provide that was too good to go up, they accepted it. Murray didn’t deal with issues effectively after, taking to social media to explain how completely satisfied he was with being traded, then bashing the group whereas arguing with followers, saying the Spurs had been “gonna be dropping for the subsequent 15 years.”
These phrases got here near the commerce, and Murray was an emotional man, so they might have been excused had he not doubled down later. On Stephen Jackson’s podcast, he stated the Spurs tried to “break him” and took part in Jackson’s favourite passion: bashing Tony Parker, whom Murray accused of not mentoring him.
