Hector Ledesma Articles - Page 3

The San Antonio Spurs are in such great position heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, that it’s difficult to envision — much less, predict — a nightmarish outcome for them. That said, there are two occurrences that could qualify. One, albeit a long shot, comes with only social media speculation and involves the seemingly inevitable […]

It’s important to note that he may not be there. In fact, Khaman Maluach is likely to be gone well before the 14th pick of the NBA Draft. But the perfect outcome regarding that San Antonio Spurs selection would be landing the former Duke center. Measuring in as a 7-footer, the South Sudan native would […]

After offseason reports indicated that the San Antonio Spurs were Kevin Durant’s preferred destination, the future Hall-of-Fame forward okayed a trade to the Houston Rockets. San Antonio was unwilling to include this summer’s second overall draft pick and NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle in any deal for Durant. Reports indicate they were also […]

During a community event in Austin, Texas, San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes met with the media. Upon getting asked about his possible inclusion in a potential trade for Kevin Durant, a Spurs media relations employee shut down the question before the reporter could finish it. “No, we’re not doing any trade talk. Sorry,” the […]

While Kevin Durant reportedly would welcome a trade to the San Antonio Spurs, there seems to be skepticism around the NBA that a trade between the Spurs and Phoenix Suns will be pulled off. It appears the Spurs are holding firm to a strategy that prioritizes building around Victor Wembanyama through the NBA Draft by […]

Though the latest reports indicate that the most serious suitors for Kevin Durant don’t include the San Antonio Spurs, nothing is yet set in stone. KD will be 37 years old by the time next NBA season starts. He’s looking for one last long-term contract, and if he’s traded soon, he’d be eligible for a […]

The San Antonio Spurs ‘ second overall choice in the 2025 NBA Draft would be their tenth ever selection in the top 10. Three of those picks came at No. 1 overall. But because David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama would spoil the fun because they’d easily rank one, two, and three, with Duncan undoubtedly at the top, […]

The word outcome is key to this article. And this may prove to be a big assumption, but this assumes the San Antonio Spurs will keep the second pick of the NBA Draft. Assuming that’s the case, it’s an easy call. Dylan Harper is the selection for the Silver and Black. If Cooper Flagg is […]

With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching, it’s easy to forget now, but leading up to last year’s draft and once Stephon Castle’s name was announced, it appeared as though the San Antonio Spurs may had again come away with a potential Rookie of the Year. His quiet confidence tells you that the former UConn Husky […]

At 33 years old, Harrison Barnes is ancient compared to most of the youth who make up the San Antonio Spurs’ core. “Me and Chris, we’re like the same age,” Barnes joked on the last day of the season in mentioning Chris Paul, who has since turned 40. That Barnes is viewed on the future […]

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 […]