The NBA has many small teams, but it is rich in superstars, such as the Thunder's four masters selected by the Thunder in the draft: Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka. It proves that the Thunder management has a unique vision, but there is also a team that likes to hunt for money in the low ranks and cultivate multiple superstars! It's the San Antonio Spurs. They had chosen Ginobili, the French sports car Parker in the low brackets, and the GDP combination with Duncan had ruled the alliance. In recent years, the Spurs have also cultivated all-star players like Murry, and the Spurs have a very unique vision of the draft.
But you know what? Even the San Antonio Spurs have a unique eye to see. In the 2019 draft, the Spurs selected Luka Samanić with the 19th pick in the first round, and the name is not very similar to Luka Doncic. Spurs have been choosing a defender in the draft, but choosing a center this year was a surprise for Samanić, and later proved to be a shock for the Spurs.
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Luka Samanić has high hopes for the Spurs, and is known as the next King of Nouvelles because he is also in the fourth position, also from Europe, has excellent shooting ability, can also connect teams, and has excellent ball quotient.
His debut was on the preseason stage, and in the face of intense confrontation and defense, Samanić looked confused and did not score points. At that time, the Spurs were in the rebuilding period, and Popovich gave many rookies a lot of game time, and Samanić was no exception, and when he started as the first starter, he got 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and performed very well. But the rookie season didn't get too many appearances. By the second season of his career, Samanić was on the Spurs' regular rotation and his chances became more numerous.
Played in 33 games that season, averaging only 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, neither in form nor in the average per game, but the Spurs did not lose confidence in him, but because of an offensive and defensive attack, Samanić's fate took a turn. After that game, Samanić was swept out by the Spurs. Why?
Popovich was rarely outraged
In that game, spurs vs. Magic, Spurs guard tried to pass the ball to Samanić, magic Anthony was alert to deduce success, the closest player to Anthony was Samanić, he could have returned to the defense to interfere, but he only ran two steps to give up the defense, watching Anthony dunk. After this round, Samanić was directly replaced by Popovich, who would have thought that this would be his last NBA game? Just after the game, the Spurs officially announced that They had cut Samanić. Compared with talent and statistics, Popovich actually values the will, quality and attitude of a player, if Samanić goes after Anthony even if the other side still scores in the end, at least your defensive attitude is instead of giving up. Without a good attitude to the game, Popovich wouldn't have chosen to keep you.
Luka Samanić then signed a two-way contract with the Knicks, but did not play for the team and eventually left the NBA. He also didn't have his name on the NBA roster last season. I don't know when he will be able to return to the NBA.
Although the Spurs rarely look away, but also in the 2019 draft, the Spurs also selected Kelden Johnson with the 29th pick in the first round, and after three seasons of training, Johnson is now the top player of the Spurs, the average data per game has risen year by year, and also received a 4-year 74 million US dollars worth of large contracts.
One loss and one gain, the Spurs are enough to comfort. Spurs have been in the low pick all year round, in recent years, white, Walker are quite good players, buy low and sell spurs at a high price to play handy, White is now the best sixth person for the Celtics, Walker turned to the Lakers to continue his career. Overall, Spurs' vision is still very good!