Spurs’ rookies banding together during first training camp run
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan this week said that training camp has been a bit easier to start going through it alongside several other rookie players.
The Spurs enter the season as the third-youngest team in the NBA and will be integrating six rookies into the mix after a busy offseason. The average age of the team is 24.5 years old, second behind only the Orlando Magic (24.1) and Oklahoma City Thunder (23.7).
The team has three first-round picks, including Sochan (ninth), Malaki Branham (20th) and Blake Wesley (25th). The Spurs also signed undrafted rookies Jordan Hall and Dominick Barlow to two-way contracts, and have Tommy Kuhse on a non-guaranteed deal.
Sochan likes that there are other rookies on the team.
I think that is a factor that helps being around people that are in the same boat as you, people that want to grow, as well. I think that helps. We all say it’s a process so I think having people in the same process is going to make it a lot easier.
The team tipped off training camp on Tuesday as the group had its first opportunity to hit the court together. The coaching staff threw a lot at the team on the first day in an effort to get them caught up ahead of their first preseason game on Sunday.
Wesley said the rookies enjoyed their first practice.
As the rookie class, it was good for me, Malaki, Jeremy, etc. Just getting a feel for it on the first day and learning a lot of stuff. Everything isn’t going to be perfect on the first day, that’s why we have a whole week to learn. Overall, it went good and we all enjoyed it.
The Spurs got even younger over the offseason after trading Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. The move further signaled that the team is all-in on building toward the future, despite earning a place in the play-in tournament last season.
Gregg Popovich, the NBA’s all-time winningest head coach, delivered a classic line when asked about the team’s goals for the upcoming season as only he could.
Nobody here should go to Vegas with the thought of betting on us to win the championship. It is probably not going to happen but that’s not the point and very honestly I couldn’t care less. The point is to develop this group and give them the best possible opportunity to have long NBA careers and enjoy the hell out of it.
San Antonio will continue its rebuild this year under a Hall of Fame head coach. The team has established its developmental program as one of the best in the league and will look to continue that tradition this season with another group of rookies.
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