Ian Mahinmi’s time with the San Antonio Spurs was short. There were some moments that made it seem like he could be a big asset to the team 
and others that made Spurs fans glad he didn’t stick around too long.
Mahinmi left San Antonio for Dallas and won a championship with the Mavericks and now he’s in Indiana. He’s averaging 17 minutes and 4.5 points per game with the Pacers as a solid backup to Roy Hibbert. It’s still early in Mahinmi’s NBA career and there’s no telling what he’ll become, but he’s very thankful for the solid foundation he started in San Antonio.
“I spent three years here,” said Mahinmi. “I think those three years were very important for my career. They gave me a good base and foundation, being able to know the system and surround myself with great players and coaches. I learned a lot. My first year, I spent some time in the D-League in Austin. That was one of the best things that happened to me. Then my second year I got hurt but I was able to be around the coaches and players. They got me through everything. In my last year, my third year, I got to play. In those three years, I would never take them for granted. Those were really the foundations of my NBA career. If I had to do it over again, I would.”
Mahinmi also talks about how great it was to watch his teammates on the Spurs get their championship rings, even though he couldn’t be part of it because he was a rookie that wasn’t on the 2007 team that won it all. He even met his future wife in San Antonio. He clearly has a lot of fond memories being a part of the Spurs that he’ll take with him for the rest of his life. I’m sure all Spurs fans wish him the best of luck.
