Hector Ledesma Articles - Page 3

It’s been 26 years since Sean Elliott tip-toed the sideline for a high-arcing shot over an airborne Rasheed Wallace in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Given its overall significance, there’s little doubt the “Memorial Day Miracle’ ranks among the biggest shots in San Antonio Spurs history. Where exactly does it rank, though? Examining […]

When the San Antonio Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox just before the deadline, the move came with the expectation that they’ll grant him a contract extension by next summer. The 2023 All-Star confirmed that’s what he’s anticipating. “I would hope so,” Fox answered when asked if he’d like a new deal before the one he […]

With Chris Paul in the news for attending a former teammate’s MVP trophy presentation, his current San Antonio Spurs teammates (still technically) are hoping they don’t become his former teammates this offseason. A 40-year-old point guard, Paul is weighing retirement. If he does return, there’s no guarantee it will be with the Silver and Black. […]

When the San Antonio Spurs took Jeremy Sochan with the ninth pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, they saw his versatility as perhaps his biggest strength. They leaned on it through his first two seasons, maybe to Sochan’s detriment. Heading into this season, though, the former Baylor Bear has a better idea of the role […]

When it comes to this San Antonio Spurs offseason, Harrison Barnes has been here before. Kind of. Through 13 NBA seasons, he’s won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in reaching the two NBA Finals and he helped the Sacramento Kings break a 16-year playoff drought. Though San Antonio hasn’t yet enjoyed that level […]

To know San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is to know what he’s going to say when he addresses the media. Every situation is met with the same attitude. Whether he’s mentioned as part of a possible trade, or his offensive touches dwindle, or his role changes, the longest tenured Spur publicly displays the same […]

As the San Antonio Spurs headed into the NBA offseason, De’Aaron Fox wasn’t shy about expressing what he thinks his relatively new team can be. “I think the sky’s the limit for this group,” the 2023 NBA All-Star said. The eighth-year guard joined the Silver and Black in early February via trade from the Sacramento […]

Victor Wembanyama appears to have cleared the first major hurdle as he rehabbed from an injury that ended his season. In making his way back from blood clots in his right shoulder, the San Antonio Spurs’ generational talent looked at the first step with a sense of awe. “Looking back, I’m really lucky,” the 7-foot-5 […]

With respect to John Kundla and Steve Kerr, there is little debate that Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich take up the four spots on the Mount Rushmore of NBA coaches. Though Kundla won five championships with the Minneapolis Lakers and Kerr’s already captured four with no indication he’s leaving the bench […]

When discussing the expectations that come with selections decided by the NBA Draft Lottery, most teams’ coaches and executives answer conservatively. Some go out of their way to lower expectations. San Antonio Spurs general manager Brian Wright isn’t going that route. Take, for example, how new Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson answered when asked if […]

Amid a report that the San Antonio Spurs are not pursuing any trades regarding the second overall pick because they’re zeroing in on Dylan Harper, it may be worth looking into what Mitch Johnson said on NBA Draft Lottery night. “It’s someone that has high upside and a high floor which you think would be […]

Just as Cooper Flagg is the consensus top pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper is widely considered the second-best prospect in the class. All things being equal, he’d almost certainly be the San Antonio Spurs’ pick after the Dallas Mavericks beat them out for the number one selection on lottery night. And, barring […]

You can’t blame San Antonio Spurs fans for all but expecting to see the Dallas Mavericks card to come up when NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum unveiled who would get the second pick of the draft. Two years after winning the right to pick Victor Wembanyama and among the final two in the lottery for […]

The San Antonio Spurs have a less than seven percent chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the prize that would come with it – Cooper Flagg. On the surface, nothing to get too excited about. For the Silver and Black, though, they might have the odds right where they want them. Asked Cooper […]

As legendary San Antonio Spurs former head coach Gregg Popovich continues to rehabilitate from a mild stroke that ended his career, he does so with two of the franchise’s legends, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, by his side. The press conference intended to introduce Mitch Johnson as the Spurs’ head man was as much about […]

For all his thank yous as he stepped down as San Antonio Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich looked forward as much as he reflected. Attending the press conference for new head coach Mitch Johnson, Pop praised his successor. But he also noted the young talent that Johnson will continue to work with. “They’ve got some […]

Two-time Executive of the Year R.C. Buford walked out. As did franchise icon Sean Elliott. Phenom Victor Wembanyama and newly minted Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle appeared as well. Hall-of-Fame players David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili walked alongside. The most prominent figures in San Antonio Spurs history gathered. It was Gregg Popovich’s […]

Shortly after David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama surprised just about everyone attending, including Stephon Castle, at a press conference that resembled more of a celebration, Castle was asked about joining them as the San Antonio Spurs’ latest Rookie of the Year winner. “Just seeing them walk out was definitely crazy. Me, being humble, […]

Call it sneaky. Call it prophetic. Either way, you can now call it true. At his end-of-the-year media availability, Victor Wembanyama insinuated that acting head coach Mitch Johnson would take over if Gregg Popovich did not return as San Antonio Spurs head coach, a reality that was confirmed this week. It went a bit unnoticed. […]

The San Antonio Spurs as we know them don’t exist without coach Gregg Popovich. Tim Duncan is their greatest player. George Gervin was their first superstar. David Robinson saved the franchise. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker helped define one of the greatest runs sports has ever seen. Victor Wembanyama is their face now. Save for […]

From even before the San Antonio Spurs drafted Stephon Castle, there was thought that perhaps the national champion with the UConn Huskies would be the player who’d perform best in the class out of the gate. Shortly after the draft, odds-makers made Castle the Rookie of the Year favorite. During the season, ClutchPoints flat-out predicted […]

Most wouldn’t use the word “memorable” to describe the San Antonio Spurs’ 2024-2025 season. Most people aren’t Victor Wenbanyama. In meeting with the media for the first time since February, Wemby told ClutchPoints exactly why he described the organization’s past year that way. Given that the Spurs head into this season with recent All-Star De’Aaron […]

As the 2025 NBA Playoffs press on, San Antonio Spurs veteran Harrison Barnes believes that his teammates will be watching, and he’s hoping that they won’t like what they see. “I hope it irritates them. I hope for some of them you have to almost drag them in front of the TV to watch because […]

For most of the last two and a half seasons, Devin Vassell has served as the San Antonio Spurs second best offensive player. It stands to reason for a guy with his offensive talent who went 11th overall in the draft. That changed when the Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox to pair alongside the generational […]

Every time the San Antonio Spurs find themselves in the midst of NBA trade talk – which has been often since the franchise drafted Victor Wembanyama two years ago – Keldon Johnson’s name gets floated as part of a move that could bolster Wemby’s supporting cast. Not sometimes. Not most of the time. Pretty much […]

While most wouldn’t call the San Antonio Spurs’ 2024-2025 season a successful one, it wasn’t an awful year either. Season-ending injuries to Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox amid Gregg Popovich’s absence for virtually the entire year qualified the expectations. Instead, team forward, Jeremy Sochan described it another way. “I think it was a tough year. […]

LeBron James commonly drew headlines recently. But it wasn’t for what he did on the court or because of the Los Angeles Lakers’ play. In not blaming young superstar Anthony Edwards’ lack of desire to become the next ‘Face of the league,’ the greatest NBA player of his generation said there’s a “weird energy” surrounding the […]

Two days before San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was taken via ambulance from a local restaurant, Victor Wembanyama and several of the team’s top players took questions during the organization’s end-of-the-year interviews. Among the topics discussed was the future of their Hall of Fame head man. “I trust the organization. I trust Pop to […]

While Chris Paul hasn’t committed to playing a 21st NBA season, he’s hinted at it. In fact, it’s fair to see he’s leaning away from retirement. So, naturally, the topic took up a good portion of the final time the future Hall of Fame guard met with the press during the 2024-25 San Antonio Spurs […]

Neither Gregg Popovich nor the San Antonio Spurs have ruled out a return to the bench for the 2025-26 campaign and beyond after he missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to a minor stroke he suffered back in November. With the Spurs season now over, Mitch Johnson, the man who replaced the Hall […]

The San Antonio Spurs’ two best players, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, played just a handful of games together. Literally. The Silver and Black traded for the 27-year-old guard in very early February. Two and a half weeks later Wemby went out for the season with an injury. In between, Fox and the young generational […]

In his 20th NBA season, Chris Paul moved into second place all-time on the NBA’s assists and steals lists. In the final game of the season for the San Antonio Spurs, he reached yet another milestone. But unlike the marks he hit climbing the numbers ladders, his latest accomplishment didn’t rely on what he’d done throughout a […]

Ahead of the San Antonio Spurs’ last game of the season, Victor Wembanyama commented publicly about his season-ending injury for the first time. Right after the All-Star Game, doctors diagnosed blood clots in his right shoulder. While the 21-year-old phenom didn’t get into too many specifics, he did provide insight into his recovery and a […]

The San Antonio Spurs drafted Stephon Castle in late June. They added Chris Paul in very early July. So, when they traded for Harrison Barnes several days later, it seemed a little anticlimactic. Castle was considered by many the most pro-ready prospect, and possibly the best player, period, in last summer’s draft. Paul is one […]

In the aftermath of the NCAA Final Four National Championship Game, which will haunt Houston’s basketball program seconds away from its first title, specific words that head coach Kelvin Sampson said ahead of the contest against the Florida basketball squad may have proven prophetic—and not in a way the Cougars prefer. “We’re probably more of an offensive rebound and […]

Whenever the NBA Rookie of the Year has been brought up to Stephon Castle – and it’s been mentioned often going on a couple of months now – the San Antonio Spurs standout has downplayed the award. Recently, after winning the Western Conference’s Rookie of the Month for March, Castle said it didn’t cross his […]

The writing went on the wall when the San Antonio Spurs announced that Victor Wembanyama would not play another game for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season. A month later that writing might as well been noted in ink when the team shut down De’Aaron Fox. While both are relevant as to why the Spurs […]

While the San Antonio Spurs cross their fingers ahead of the NBA Draft Lottery  in a little more than a month, they’ll have two selections in the first round regardless barring any trades. Both could come in the lottery if the Atlanta Hawks, who parted with their 2025 first round pick in the 2022 Dejounte […]

As the Duke Basketball team exits the Final Four, they leave after four true days in San Antonio, including the morning they arrived. Not long after landing and taking buses to their team hotel, Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils headed to the San Antonio Spurs headquarters for a preliminary Final Four workout. Opened as […]