Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t think his star center will call it a career. Continue reading →

Antonio McDyess, the 36-year-old Spurs forward who as recently as last month had been leaning toward retirement at the end of the season, said Thursday he plans to return for a 15th season. “My mind is pretty much made up,” McDyess said. “I feel like I’ll be able to lace ‘em up and go again.” When McDyess joined the Spurs as a free agent in July 2009, his plan was to play two more seasons and call it quits. As an incentive, the Spurs built into McDyess’ contract a third season in 2011-12, of which only $2.64 million is guaranteed — sort of an early retirement present. The way coach Gregg Popovich has used McDyess this season — sparingly and situationally — has convinced McDyess that he could survive another season. — San Antonio Express-News

When the Dallas Mavericks waived four-year NBA veteran Steve Novak on Jan. 5, the 6-foot-10 forward was faced with two options. Continue reading…

Little about his inaugural NBA season has come easy for Splitter, who has appeared in 39 of a possible 50 games, averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds. Even Popovich figured the rookie would be cemented into the rotation by now. A 10-year veteran of Spain’s top professional league, Splitter came advertised as a ready-made NBA player, and had fans — perhaps hyperbolically — envisioning a Twin Towers redux, the Brazilian next to Duncan. Popovich admits he is surprised with how his big-man rotation has unfolded. “This is just what happened, and every year is just a different situation, just like every game is different,” he said. “(Splitter) missed the whole darn training camp and that’s tough, especially for a guy who isn’t familiar with the NBA, isn’t familiar with any of the players and isn’t familiar with our system. “It really put him behind, and we’re frantically trying to catch him up.” — San Antonio Express-News

Today, the mere mention of bonding makes Spurs coach Gregg Popovich roll his eyes. Continue reading to find out why

For Antonio McDyess, this was supposed to be the last hurrah, the grand finale, the cherry on top. Even before he signed with the Spurs two summers ago, McDyess had made up his mind that his 15th NBA season would be his last. The first 41 games of McDyess’ supposed farewell season have served to lob an awfully big monkeywrench into those plans. At 36, the Spurs’ eldest statesman has been playing so well, and feeling so spry, he has lately begun to reconsider retirement. “If I could play here another year,” McDyess said, “I would definitely contemplate it.” For McDyess, “here” is the operative word. He has so enjoyed his season-and-a-half in San Antonio, he might be willing to put off the rocking chair for a third. For the record, McDyess says he’s still leaning toward retirement but is leaving the door to a 16th season slightly ajar. “I’m not going to say never,” McDyess said. – San Antonio Express-News

The last time Spurs point guard Tony Parker made at least 33 percent of his 3-point shots — a similar correlation to 50 percent shooting from inside the 3-point arc — the Spurs won 58 games and their fourth NBA championship. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has asked Parker to do some extra long-range shooting