Longtime San Antonio Spurs icon and team shareholder David Robinson is optimistic about the team's future after the franchise withstood a seismic change to start out the 2018-19 season. Under the leadership of coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs survived the departure of their best player in Kawhi Leonard, the retirement of Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker's decision to sign with the Charlotte Hornets, along with a laundry list of injuries that could have derailed their season.
Robinson is confident that the core of this team is a winning one, and one they can build from — a good place to start for a franchise that has seen two straight playoff exits in the first round, but an NBA-record 22 straight playoff appearances.
“I think that bringing in DeMar (DeRozan in the Leonard trade) and (having) LaMarcus (Aldridge), we were fortunate to get two highly talented players,” said Robinson, according to Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. “We still obviously have some things to figure out. We still aren't where we need to be yet, but we have pieces, and that's all you can really ask as a franchise.”
More importantly, the Spurs will have the same iconic presence at the helm of this team, as Popovich has decided to return for his 24th season after signing a three-year deal despite losing his wife, Erin, during the last postseason.
“I went to the funeral they had up at the Air Force Academy, and that's tough, I don't care who you are,” Robinson said. “Pop has always been a rock for this franchise and you almost never see him flinch. But I don't care who you are, that's a tough thing to go through, so you don't know how people are going to react. But I think it's been a great thing for him to coach. It's been a new family for him. And I am happy that he is coming back. He is fantastic.”
The three-year deal will make Popovich the highest-paid coach in the league, a well-deserved payday, considering his endless list of accolades and the prestige he's brought to the organization.
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