界灵fsa
2007-07-21, 12:43 PM
Numbers are in Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s favor
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) thrilled with top pick, but he can't get his favorite No. 21.
Web Posted: 07/20/2007 10:17 PM CDT
John Whisler
Tiago Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), the Spurs' first pick in last month's NBA draft, knows he'll have a number of adjustments to make when he takes the floor for the first time for the team in 2008.
One of them concerns his jersey number.
A 6-foot-11 post player from Brazil, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) has worn No. 21 in each of the past four seasons for Tau Cerámica of the Spanish professional league.
That number is currently in use for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and no doubt will be hanging from the rafters at the AT&T Center some day.
"Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is one of my heroes, someone I've always watched in the NBA," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said at a Friday news conference to introduce the 22-year-old.
When asked if planned to talk to the two-time league MVP about giving up the number, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) smiled.
"I have no chance," he said.
His signing is still a year away, but Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) evidently has a grasp on what it will take to fit in that first season.
Come in, work hard and improve under the tutelage of coach Gregg Popovich and the team's collection of established stars. Including Duncan.
"He's a guy you can learn from day-by-day," said Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), adding that he's always been an admirer of the Spurs' team-first style of play.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) general manager R.C. Buford said he expects Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) to fit in quite well. He said the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have known about Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) since he was 16.
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), who speaks four languages — Portuguese, Spanish, English and German — began playing professionally in Europe at age 15. He comes from an athletic family: his sister, 17, is 6-6 and plays basketball in Brazil.
"Seldom does anyone have the opportunity to add a player of this quality, both as a person and as a basketball talent, after a championship season," said Buford, adding that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) "were lucky" he fell to them with the 28th pick in the draft.
Because his contract with Tau Cerámica includes a sizeable buyout for the coming season, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) won't play for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in 2007-08.
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s Tau Cerámica teammate, Luis Scola, faced a similar situation after the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) drafted him in the second round in 2002. But Scola's buyout was too large, and two years ago the Spurs' instead elected to sign his friend and Argentine countryman, Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto).
Buford said Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s contract has a specific buyout at the end of next season and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) fully "anticipate being able to sign him."
Earlier this month, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) traded Scola's draft rights to the Houston Rockets.
"I haven't talked to him. I don't know what's in his mind," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said of Scola. "I know he wanted to come to the NBA. But Tau wouldn't let him."
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) averaged 11.2 points a game, on 61.3 percent shooting, in 28 games last season with Tau Cerámica in the Spanish League and 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 20 games with Tau Cerámica in the Euroleague.
Buford said if Scola jumps to the NBA this season, his absence on Tau Cerámica might help Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s development.
"A lot of their post offense went through Luis," Buford said.
As for Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s number, Buford said it reminds him of the situation Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) faced upon his arrival with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in 2002. Ginobili's No. 6 had been worn for years by Avery Johnson. But Johnson had retired by then.
Duncan has no such plans.
"I've always liked the number 25," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA072107.04C.NZ.State.BKN_spurs-splitter.en.2e959d9.html
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) thrilled with top pick, but he can't get his favorite No. 21.
Web Posted: 07/20/2007 10:17 PM CDT
John Whisler
Tiago Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), the Spurs' first pick in last month's NBA draft, knows he'll have a number of adjustments to make when he takes the floor for the first time for the team in 2008.
One of them concerns his jersey number.
A 6-foot-11 post player from Brazil, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) has worn No. 21 in each of the past four seasons for Tau Cerámica of the Spanish professional league.
That number is currently in use for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and no doubt will be hanging from the rafters at the AT&T Center some day.
"Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is one of my heroes, someone I've always watched in the NBA," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said at a Friday news conference to introduce the 22-year-old.
When asked if planned to talk to the two-time league MVP about giving up the number, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) smiled.
"I have no chance," he said.
His signing is still a year away, but Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) evidently has a grasp on what it will take to fit in that first season.
Come in, work hard and improve under the tutelage of coach Gregg Popovich and the team's collection of established stars. Including Duncan.
"He's a guy you can learn from day-by-day," said Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), adding that he's always been an admirer of the Spurs' team-first style of play.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) general manager R.C. Buford said he expects Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) to fit in quite well. He said the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have known about Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) since he was 16.
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/), who speaks four languages — Portuguese, Spanish, English and German — began playing professionally in Europe at age 15. He comes from an athletic family: his sister, 17, is 6-6 and plays basketball in Brazil.
"Seldom does anyone have the opportunity to add a player of this quality, both as a person and as a basketball talent, after a championship season," said Buford, adding that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) "were lucky" he fell to them with the 28th pick in the draft.
Because his contract with Tau Cerámica includes a sizeable buyout for the coming season, Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) won't play for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in 2007-08.
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s Tau Cerámica teammate, Luis Scola, faced a similar situation after the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) drafted him in the second round in 2002. But Scola's buyout was too large, and two years ago the Spurs' instead elected to sign his friend and Argentine countryman, Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto).
Buford said Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s contract has a specific buyout at the end of next season and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) fully "anticipate being able to sign him."
Earlier this month, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) traded Scola's draft rights to the Houston Rockets.
"I haven't talked to him. I don't know what's in his mind," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said of Scola. "I know he wanted to come to the NBA. But Tau wouldn't let him."
Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) averaged 11.2 points a game, on 61.3 percent shooting, in 28 games last season with Tau Cerámica in the Spanish League and 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 20 games with Tau Cerámica in the Euroleague.
Buford said if Scola jumps to the NBA this season, his absence on Tau Cerámica might help Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s development.
"A lot of their post offense went through Luis," Buford said.
As for Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/)'s number, Buford said it reminds him of the situation Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) faced upon his arrival with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in 2002. Ginobili's No. 6 had been worn for years by Avery Johnson. But Johnson had retired by then.
Duncan has no such plans.
"I've always liked the number 25," Splitter (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tiago_splitter/) said.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA072107.04C.NZ.State.BKN_spurs-splitter.en.2e959d9.html