When asked who was going to coach the San Antonio Spurs' Summer League team in Las Vegas in three weeks, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gave an entertaining response in his final press conference of the 2012-2013 season Saturday.
“Bud is coaching,” said Popovich. “He’s going to do it part time.”
The reason Popovich joked with the response is because during the NBA Finals, Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer agreed to become the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Now, with a vacant coaching position open on the Spurs’ bench, could a former Spur and Argentinean be joining the coaching staff?
It’s possibility according to Julian Mozo of the Argentinean site Ole.com.
Oberto acknowledged that his retirement is almost a given. "I think about other things," he said after the not Athens. Would join the staff at Spurs Gregg Popovich.
The pivot amasses a unique chance, join the coaching staff or directors of the Spurs. "I am seduced back with pants. Last year I had a chance to go to a team and I said no. Now there's another chance. It's something to start from below. We'll see … "he said. He gave no details, but is almost closed to be assistant on the staff of Gregg Popovich, who thus replace Mike Budenholzer, new coach of Atlanta. "I've always talked to Buford (Manager of San Antonio; Oberto was NBA champion with the Spurs in 2007), told me I had the doors open.
Mozo writes that Oberto, at 38, is still contemplating whether or not he’ll officially retire as a basketball player first before looking at the Spurs as an option for coaching.
Should the Spurs offer Oberto the position and he does take it, one could infer that it would be a stronger sign Manu Ginobili might not retire and decide to continue playing in San Antonio. Ginobili and Oberto are very close after playing together in Argentina over the years and also during Oberto’s time on the Spurs.
Though Oberto was never dominant player in the NBA, he brings a high basketball IQ and could help players like Tiago Splitter (if he decides to re-sign), Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, and the younger Aron Baynes in executing the pick-and-roll and being more effective alongside Tim Duncan in the post.
After all, the last time the Spurs won a title, Oberto was on the team playing center.
(Photo: MKRob.com)
