In the young Spurs workforce (average age of 24.3 years), compared by Gregg Popovich to a “newborn”, Doug McDermott, Gorgui Dieng and Josh Richardson are the oldest and therefore rightly considered to be the veterans of this young troop .
But this season, there are also young veterans in San Antonio. It is “Pop” himself who says so.
The confidence of “Pop”, the support of veterans
” I have seen satisfying leadership from our young veterans » said the Spurs coach after the victory of his family against Jazz (111-104), on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
These “young veterans” have two names, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vasell, and they compiled 46 points in their team’s success against the Salt Lake City squad. Naturally set to become leaders in attack this season, the two wingers are also encouraged to take on a broader role as mentors for the entire Spurs bottle class.
” It’s a great opportunity to be in this position of young leaders for our team. We always have Gorgui, or Doug. But these guys encourage us, they tell us ‘we let you manage, and if we have to intervene, we will’. It is very pleasant » confided Keldon Johnson, while his colleague added that the team « will behave as they will behave “, then emphasizing the importance of giving a good example to their teammates, yet barely younger than them.
Set standards
Because there is no question for the two young Spurs to cut corners or rest on their laurels: to be a good leader of the locker room, you must first be irreproachable in training and in matches.
” I want to keep growing as a player, keep expanding my game assured Keldon Johnson, who faced the Jazz ideally started his season (22 points and 5 rebounds at 9/13 on shots) after a right shoulder injury deprived him of the start of the “training camp”.
Devin Vassell did not need to detail the extent of his summer work, since it was his teammate who took care of it for him.
” If only you could have seen how hard Devin has worked this summer. I was in San Antonio all summer, Dev too. He worked on a whole bunch of stuff in his game, on his physique too “announced the former Kentucky, before his coach followed suit. ” He is confident with his shot, and he displays great concentration in his defensive duties concluded Gregg Popovich.
Failing to win many matches, the Spurs will therefore strive to organically shape their future leaders this season. Silence it grows…
| Keldon Johnson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 17 | 18 | 59.6 | 59.1 | 79.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9.1 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 69 | 29 | 47.9 | 33.1 | 74.0 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2021-22 | SAN | 75 | 32 | 46.6 | 39.8 | 75.6 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 17.0 |
| Total | 161 | 29 | 47.8 | 38.5 | 75.3 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 14.4 | |
