A Nightmare for the San Antonio Spurs and Gregg Popovich

Gregg Popovich, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs, must hate international basketball competition. It is simply a case of some of his best players being at risk. In the Beijing Olympics, Manu Ginobili re-injured the ligaments in his left foot. That injury carried through into the NBA season. Now there is an injury to the Spurs point guard, Tony Parker, at the Eurobasket competition:

“…Parker hurt his right thigh and ankle in a collision with Austrian player Stjepan Stazic during a game last Friday.

“I was hit in my thigh and my ankle also was turned,” Parker said in a statement issued by the French Basketball Federation.”

link: Spurs’ Parker sprains ankle; international play in doubt

The Spurs have been active in the off-season. For example, they have added Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess. As well, the Spurs have signed players such as Marcus Haislip, Malik Hairston and Dejuan Blair. And Michael Finley is planning to return for the next season.

However, all these roster moves depend upon some of the key Spurs players being healthy. Millions of dollars depend upon it. And news from Europe of ankle and thigh injuries to Tony Parker must not be good for Gregg Popovich’s blood pressure.

Catherine Forsythe