2013-14 Spurs: The place are they now?

Now we have reached the finale of our five-part sequence wanting again on the Spurs’ championship groups and what these gamers are thus far. For those who missed any of the 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 squads, you should definitely examine them out, and as we speak we’re wanting on the 2013-14 Spurs: simply essentially the most memorable and satisfying championship story of all of them (for extra purpose than simply being the newest). Whereas the glow from that staff didn’t translate to extra longevity for causes that don’t have to be fully rehashed right here, it was a staff filled with feel-good tales and nonetheless one of many extra celebrated for remodeling the NBA with The Lovely Recreation.

As a reminder, gamers who appeared on multiple championship staff will solely be listed of their first look to keep away from repetition, so for Tim Duncan, refer again to 1999; for Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, refer again to 2003; and for Matt Bonner, refer again to 2007. With out additional ado, listed here are the remainder of the 2013-14 Spurs!

Jeff Ayers (#11) — The thirty first total decide in 2009, Ayers didn’t have the longest NBA profession, with the top being the 2014 championship. After that, his NBA profession was principally over (some would possibly bear in mind a heartbreaking second from the 2014-15 season, the place he appeared to know that as Duncan comforted him following a rubbish time blunder), along with his solely different NBA appearances being a few stints with the Clippers the next season, together with enjoying for the G League Idaho Stampede. Since then, his profession has been solely abroad, enjoying in Moscow, Japan, Turkey, and the BIG3.

Aron Baynes (#16) — One other younger third stringer on the time, the Large Thunder from Down Below had a way more profitable NBA profession since leaving the Spurs in 2015 as a strong participant for the Pistons, Celtics, Suns and Raptors. Nonetheless, his life took a flip on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 whereas representing Australia, when he didn’t return from the locker room and was discovered collapsed on the ground with a mysterious spinal damage. After initially fearing he would by no means stroll once more, he made the lengthy highway to restoration and at present performs for the Brisbane Bullets of the NBL, hoping to sometime make an NBA comeback.

Marco Belinelli (#3) — One of many higher outdoors shooters of his technology however at all times a journeyman, Belinelli returned to the Spurs for a second stint from 2018-2020, and whereas his first season again was filled with thrilling photographs on their method to their twenty second straight playoff look, his scoring plummeted the following season. That ended up being the tip of his NBA profession, and since 2020, he has been again along with his previous membership in Italy, Virtus Bologna, the place he has obtained every kind of accolades (championships, 2x sixth man of the yr, and so on.)

Austin Daye (#23) — A former fifteenth total decide who was speculated to be a strong two-way participant however by no means fairly put all of it collectively in NBA, Daye was acquired by the Spurs mid-season in 2014 after Nando de Colo requested a commerce and was waived a yr later. He then signed a multi-year contract with the Hawks however was waived through the 2015 offseason earlier than being signed and waived by the Cavaliers the next preseason. Since then, he has principally remained abroad, at present enjoying for Victoria Libertas Pesaro within the Italian Basketball League (Collection A).

Boris Diaw (#33) — Usually credited because the lacking piece who helped the Spurs put every part collectively in 2014, he remained in San Antonio for 2 extra seasons earlier than being traded to the Jazz. After one season in Utah, he was waived and performed one season for Levallois Metropolitans within the French league earlier than formally retiring in 2018. Since then, he has been dwelling the great life, having fun with his pastimes of pictures, wine tasting and crusing. In 2019, he turned president of Metropolitans 92: Victor Wembanyama’s former membership.

Danny Inexperienced (#4) — What a narrative Inexperienced has been: from an ignored, immature second spherical decide to three-time champion and all-defensive NBA participant. Though he’s been a journeyman since being traded together with Kawhi Leonard in 2018, he performed an enormous position on two extra championship groups with the Raptors in 2019 and Lakers in 2020, turning into the third participant together with Robert Horry and John Salley to win a championship with three completely different golf equipment. Sadly, he tore his ACL in 2021, and after a few comeback makes an attempt with the Grizzlies and Cavs, he’s at present an unrestricted free agent.

Cory Joseph (#5) — One of many Spurs’ many strong picks at twenty ninth total in 2011, Joseph is most identified in San Antonio for posterizing defensive wall Serge Ibaka within the 2014 Western Convention Finals, waking the Spurs again up and avoiding a repeat of 2012. Since leaving in 2015, he has been a strong backup level guard for a number of golf equipment, most just lately signing with the Warriors this offseason.

Kawhi Leonard (#2) — Few (if any) excessive profile gamers have left he Spurs on poorer phrases than Leonard, however everybody is aware of that story by now, so shifting on. After successful the 2019 championship with the Raptors, Leonard made it to his desired vacation spot of the Los Angeles Clippers in free company, and whereas he has principally gotten no matter he desires there — together with Paul George as a teammate: one thing the Spurs didn’t have the items to offer for him — his profession has remained injury-plagued. Past making the All-Star recreation and main them to the WCF in 2020, he has solely averaged 53 video games within the three seasons he’s performed with the Clippers whereas lacking your complete 2021-22 with a torn ACL.

Patty Mills (#8) — We transfer on from of essentially the most hated to most beloved of this group (outdoors the Large Three, in fact). Mills remained with the Spurs till 2021 as their locker room chief and coronary heart and soul of the staff earlier than shifting on to the Brooklyn Nets as San Antonio transitioned to a youth motion. He made a bit of bit information this offseason after being a part of 4 groups in ten days: traded from the Nets to the Rockets, then to the Thunder and at last the Hawks. Right now, the one remaining debate about Mills amongst Spurs followers is that if his #8 jersey will grasp within the rafters sometime.

Tiago Splitter (#22) — After a really strong 5 years with the Spurs, Splitter was traded to the Hawks midseason in 2015 however missed the remainder of the season following hip surgical procedure. Sadly, the remainder of his profession was injury-plagued, solely showing in 32 video games for the Hawks the following season, and after lacking the primary a number of months of the 2016-17 season, he was traded to the 76ers, showing in 8 video games whereas making an attempt to play on a prosthetic hip. He then retired and has since made a profession in teaching as a professional scout and developmental coach for the Nets starting in 2018, and final month he was employed by Ime Udoka as an assistant coach for the Rockets.

And with that, we’ve hit the tip of this sequence! Bear in mind to take a look at the 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 groups in case you missed any of them, and stick round for lots extra offseason content material! Though August is usually essentially the most boring time of yr for NBA followers, it additionally means September and coaching camp is simply across the nook, to not point out this will probably be an enormous weekend for the Spurs, with Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich and Becky Hammon all coming into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame on Saturday. We’ll have loads of protection of that huge occasion, so keep tuned!