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The last time the San Antonio Spurs started preseason without Tim Duncan was when the Nintendo 64 was first released in 1996. That was 20 years ago, and Head Coach Gregg Popovich admitted on Monday prior to a 91-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns that it is "a little bit lonely" without the future Hall of Famer in his lineup.
“It’s a little bit lonely here at the start,” Popovich told San Antonio Express-News. “You don’t coach someone for 20 years, that’s a long, long time.”
But even though Duncan is no longer suiting up for the Spurs, Popovich and the team’s brass have plans to keep the former two-time MVP around the team’s facilities. On the first day of training camp, Popovich told the media that Duncan can basically do whatever he wants. He can go scout, he can train players… “He’s in charge. He can tell me exactly what he wants to do.” And on Monday, he relayed the same message.
“If he wants to scout a little bit or run a drill one day or take a week road trip with us, we’re open to whatever he wants,” Popovich said. “We’re hoping it will infect him a little bit and he’ll want to do more.”
Duncan has taken Popovich up on his offer, as he came by the Spurs’ facilities on the second day of training camp and worked out with some of the newcomers to the team, such as Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray. He also did some shooting drills with former teammates.
It would seem that Duncan will not be leaving the Spurs organization anytime soon. So what do you think his role will be with the team? Assistant coach? A scout? A trainer? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
