The Spurs Can't Catch a Break, Can They?
Edition #222
BREAKING NEWS. GREGG POPOVICH WILL NOT BE RETURNING THIS SEASON.
Before we dig into Wemby, we need to talk about Popovich.
Gregg, who was born the year NATO was created, is 76 years old. He suffered a stroke in November and has not been with the team since. He’s currently the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA.
He’s now not expected to return to the team for the rest of the season, and his future with the team is uncertain. Popovich has been the coach of the San Antonio Spurs for 27 years. Whenever I think of the Spurs, I think of Ginobili, Duncan, and Parker, one of the greatest trios in history, led by the mastermind of Gregg Popovich.
From that amazing team, the Spurs went down to the ground and rose up again with Wemby and multiple draft picks. Wembanyama, Castle, Fox, Paul, and Barnes are the names that pop into my head first. Sorry Vassell.
So, for Popovich to miss this season? Completely fine. For his future to be uncertain, that saddens me.
Yes, I know, he’s not going anywhere. I know he’s coming back next year and coaching, but, the fact that people are even declaring that, gives me that feeling that there will be a day when Popovich won’t be coaching anymore, and that’s something I, or anybody for a matter of fact, has seen, for 27 years. It sound dumb, but in one way or another, we’ll all miss him, even if we haven’t had a direct experience with him.
Even if he retires from coaching, he’s going to be involved with the Spurs someway or another. Pops is a Spurs legend. No doubt about it, and if indeed he calls it quits after this year, his final game was a win, and he rides off into the sunset, the NBA’s Coaching wins leader.
Victor Wembanyama Out for the Season
A 5 foot 7 phenom, sophomore player Victor Wembanyama’s electric season will be put on pause after suffering deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, basically a blood clot.
Now the Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox specifically to make a push for the playoffs, but without Wembanyama, the player the Spurs are building around, that playoff push may not come this year.
Now when you think about blood clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis in the NBA, you might remember Chris Bosh, and because of this condition, he had to retire at 31. He attained DVT in his legs though, and the reason was because of travel. For someone as tall as Bosh or Wembanyama, you need to keep your blood pumping throughout the limbs. On the plane, you’re stuck in one position.
This could be a reason for Wembanyama’s shoulder too. We don’t know how exactly this happened.
Right now, all we know is the fact that he got it in his shoulder may be a good thing, because if he had gotten it in his legs, it would’ve been game over.
The main reasons this happens in the shoulder are jamming the ball, contact, and collision, which happen in the NBA and obviously lead to a good chance of vein damage.
Dr. Evan Jeffries, a physical therapist and NBA & NFL “injury insider,” said: “The main thing is that they caught it early and it did not dislodge and spread to close organs such as brain/heart/lungs. He will be on blood thinners for at least three months and will have to show negative scans to work his way back to basketball.”
The only extreme case of this condition would be Chris Bosh, and he suffered from it in a different position, so it’s most likely not going to happen. The rest of the cases in the NBA have mainly led to revivals, and one to experience this is Brandon Ingram. In other sports, famous tennis player Serena Williams also suffered from a pulmonary embolism in the lungs, which is an even bigger condition.
It’s not clear when the condition arose or for how long he’s been playing with it, so there’s a chance that he could’ve even played with it during the all-star game, and that’s life-threatening. But, all we know for sure is that he’s done for the season, and anything can happen. Brandon Ingram is his best option. Chris Bosh is his worst option, but personally, I see him staying the same Wemby he’s been for the last 2 years.
Dominating.
The Spurs are now 24-30, and only the Suns and the Kings stand in their way of a play-in berth. Should they go for the playoff spot? Or, should they fall once again, to get into a great position for a draft pick? What do you think? Tell me in the comments below!
All I can say is that you don’t have Wemby, and you know you don’t have Pops. You probably don’t have a chance at Cooper Flagg either (trading up, maybe?). But next year, if you draft another stud (preferably at PF) and you have the GOAT of coaches, Popovich, back, I’m no basketball genius, but even I would think that this team would have a shot at the playoffs, if not the title!
So, go for the draft position Spurs. There’s nothing to be ashamed of really. This team will be set up for a dynasty, just like the one they had before.
Ranking the best basketball GMs post coming soon. Stay tuned!
Coach Pop should pass the reigns to someone else, age is catching up to him. He can be affiliated with the Spurs forever, but with his medical condition, it's time for him to retire as a coach