April 4, 2023 • 17 mins
Boris Diaw takes us inside his journey to the NBA. Boris begins sharing when he knew he would turn professional and then he details what his relationship is like with Tony Parker. Later, Boris remembers the memorable Suns series vs. the Spurs and then he shares how he wound up in San Antonio. Boris talks about how he fit in with the Spurs, the growth of Tony Parker and playing for Greg Popovich, and then he discusses the legendary 2013 and 2014 finals.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of Salvos First podcast on the
longtime radio voice the Spurs, Bill Shoulding, and we've got
a very very special guest today the show, by the Way,
presented by s WBC. Boris d I'll spent four years
with the Spurs, an important part of the championship team
in fourteen, and we will get to that certainly, but
a boris always good to have you and see you.
It's you're a sight for sore eyes because you were
(00:32):
such a regular around here with that big smile and
your espresso machine in the locker room. And you're gonna
get to hear the cheers this evening as we bring
you back to honor you. So that's gonna be a
special moment for you. Yeah, thank you. It's always always
always great to be back to come back to San
Antonio and the fans always been so supportive and all
the years that would be there, so you know, I
(00:52):
always enjoyed. I enjoyed every minute that I was here
and so so happy to be back in see fens again.
You know, the Spurs obviously were one of the teams
that started to really imp arace international players, and you've
got to be a big part of that, and not
only you, but your teammates as well. Did you feel
a special welcome with the crowd here as far as
the international players are concerned, Yes, I mean it was
(01:13):
a melting pot, you know, of players, and we used
to call each other the United Nations, like we're coming
from all sorts of different continents and countries, and it's
always been great, and the fans always supported that and
actually you know, took proud into it, and the foreign
Legion was another nickname that you guys had, and then
of course that the bench was very effective. Let's start
at the beginning. I born in northern France. Your mother
(01:35):
one of the great basketball players of all time, a
Hall of Famer in France, and your father was a
track athlete in Senegal. Correct, Yeah, correct, So yeah, my
mom and my dad met to sport. Actually that went
to the same sports school in Paris, and that's how
I came to me. And so, you know, followed the
footstep of my mom. I could have a good track
and field, but I followed my mom footstep and really
(01:58):
get the passion of basketball right away. You were born
in a smaller town right in northern France, but did you.
So I was born in Paris, right next to outside
of Paris, but I left when I was nine months
old and went to the southwest actually, and so I
grew up all my life in the southwest of France.
What was it like as far as being a basketball
player or knowing that that was going to be a future.
When did you know the basketball is be a part
(02:18):
of your future and was there any basketball available to
you where you were? Well, I no idea it was
going to be my future as my work. I know
it was my passion. I know I love to play,
but I thought I would play as an amateur, you know,
basically my whole life. And I had no idea until
I actually turned sixteen seventeen and it became possible for
me to actually become pro in France, and so it
(02:40):
was really like step by step. It was, you know,
not a set goal for me. I was just enjoying
having fun playing basketball, and then all of a sudden,
some professional teams got interested. When did you first cross
pants with Tony Parker in Paris? When we were sixteen,
That's when that's when we met and we played together
with Tony and it was, you know, just a great
(03:01):
experience those years in our life. We're a lot of fun.
Did you guys stay close or did you kind of
separate and then come back together when you were teammates,
because I know that obviously you were best man Tony's wedding.
You guys are extremely close, But did you stay close
all that time? Yeah? We stay close the whole time.
I mean we from starting in Paris who were in
the same classroom, so we'd see each other all day
(03:22):
basically because get up, go to school, sit next to
each other in school, and then from school we had
to practice a day, we would go to practice practice
together and then I've lunched together at dinner together, so
we would stay together the whole time, and so we
stay friends. In were you both involved in the French
national team at that time, we were involving the youth
national team, so yeah, we were playing in the youth
(03:44):
national team and we won a championship under eighteen, the
European Championship, and that's the first thing we went together.
And I think he really cement this one. So even
at a young age, Boar, as you were traveling quite
a bit, I would think, so, did that you know,
give you this kind of a worldly experience at a
young age. Yeahs, at a young age. We would go
from places to places, didn't have much time to actually visit,
(04:05):
but we would go to different countries that people didn't
even go for a vacation. We play in Slovakia, we
played in in Georgia, we played in Spain and Greece
and so many places. As a young guys, it was
just great for us to experience that. And you had
some very good young French players coming up at that time,
(04:27):
including you and Tony. Did you realize it would be
kind of a renaissance of French basketball with the guys
who were coming up behind you as well. I mean,
it was all europe kind of phenomenon. And he started
with Tony being drafted at the same time as Kirilenko,
at the same time as paulasl and all three of
them after a couple of weeks being in NBA, we're
(04:47):
playing a major role for their team, starting and actually
being one of the main players of their own team.
And I created a pathway for all the Europeans that
came after that, and so for me as well. So
you finally come to the state, so you get drafted,
buy Atlanta, and you spent a couple of years with
the Hawks, and then that you were with the Charlotte
Bobcats for a while right in Phoenix. The Phoenix Suns
(05:08):
of course, then you were with the Phoenix Suns and
a great run with them, playing with the Mars Outomire
and Steve Nash and he came very close, but you
kept running into that Silver and Black team, right the Spurs. Yeah,
it was already so yeah, after playing a couple of
years in Atlanta, played in Phoenix at some great time,
great season and going into playoffs, and yeah, we did
get eliminated by by the Spurs a couple of times.
(05:29):
What are your memories of those series as you guys
were going back and forth, because there were some and now,
of course I was on the other side of the
time boards, but there were some memorable, great series that
really went down to the wire a lot of those games. Yeah,
I remember that. It was it was a battle in
the game after game. It was a clash of two
different style as well. You know, we're a very offensive
team and the Spurs were a very defensive team, and
(05:51):
so that's why he was so impressive to what. Okay,
you leave Charlotte and tell us how that whole thing
happened when you go from the Bobcats to the Spurs,
And was Tony Parker involved in any So basically, the
last couple of years the Bobcats, Um, it wasn't going
so well. Um. And yeah, I just got to fall
out with the coach, and so I wanted to go
(06:13):
somewhere else. Uh. And so we did a buyout with
the Bobcats and then I could choose a team to
finish the season. So it was well in March already
of the season, uh, and to choose between the different teams,
and at the time Boston Celtics was pretty interested going
(06:33):
into the playoffs. They just wanted to get somebody else.
And then sant Antonio Spurs as well. But obviously I
knew Tony and I a little insight of, you know,
the way it was working here and the mentality and
the philosophy of the team and of pop and so um,
it was an easy choice for me that coming year.
I knew what I was coming into Charlotte was a
(06:54):
team that was struggling at the time compared with what
the Spurs were doing at the time. Because the Spurs
were in the middle of this unbelievable run. What were
your thoughts and trying to fit in with this team
that was already established. Well, it was so easy to
fit in because of all the players, and like I said,
the philosophy was very similar to, you know, what I
wanted to do anyway, and so being able to just
be a team player, you know, looking for your teammates,
(07:17):
be unselfish, and so it was easy for me to
actually fit in with that team in the philosophy. You know,
we hear the term the beautiful game, and that was
course made famous in the fourteen finals. When you think
of the beautiful game, what do you think of? I
think about the team play, you know, and the d
selfishness and uh and players looking for each other. And
(07:42):
so to me, that's what it is. And looking at
that video that was made and Magic Johnson talking about it,
it's even you know, one of my ero growing up
as well. Was was just great to see that. I
watched a video sometime and just talking about how we
moved the ball and now we passed the ball to
each other and we trusted each other as well, and
that's what the beautiful game was. There's one beautiful play
(08:03):
where you have a wraparound past the Thiago in the
finals against Miami. Yeah, i'd advantag John Away he comes
to the the double team behind that passed the splitter. Well,
what a beautiful look for Boris taff I'm still speachless
at this past. And I mean you got shot well
over fifty percent I think fifty four percent in that
entire series. But that was one of those signature plays
(08:27):
and showed the team play. And you talk about getting
everybody involved in. Thiago became a very good friend of yours.
Of course, you guys had that coffee club together. That
must be special moments when you look back at it
and the relationship you have with each year teammates, but
especially that little poor group that you guys had, Yes,
for sure, and you know the commanderie plays a big
role in the team's that actually, you know, we can
(08:47):
go foreign the playoffs and win championships. And so the
commaraderie his team was was unbelievable. You know, everybody liked
each other, you know, all those team dealers that we do.
Always was a great fun and uh and yeah, we
would you know, be great friends outside the court, and
that would translate on the court when we would easily
find each other or I'm going to ask you a
(09:08):
couple of player questions and just your thoughts when I
say that player's name, because we're doing this as a podcast,
but we're also doing it as part of the docu
series the fiftieth anniversary of the Spurs Tim duncan Well team.
You know, before I came here, anyway, it was, you know,
same one of the players that I looked up to.
I wouldn't say growing up because then it's going to
(09:29):
feel old, but as a teenager before I get to
the NBA, definitely was a player that I admired before
coming here and h and that admire even more after
I came and play with him. Just seeing the professionalism
what he brings, the aura that he has on a
team and making you know, this team follow the lead.
(09:50):
You know, the leadership that he would have was something
very special. Manus nobly Manu is the is the fire,
you know, the fire from Merchant Tina, And never know
what you're gonna get with him. You never know what
kind of play is going to do. But you know
it's gonna be sparkly. You know it's gonna be pretty
(10:11):
explosive whatever you do. Did he have a reputation long
before you met him and he came to the NBA.
I mean, did you know about him in Europe? Ah? Yeah,
of course same. I watched him play when he was
playing in Italy. It was one of the best best
teams I ever played in Italy as well, you know,
winning the UP and the EuroLeague over there. So yeah,
(10:32):
I already knew and was watching man who playing in
Europe before you get to the to the NBA. But yeah,
you know, you never know if the game is going
to translate from Europe, but for him, he translate perfectly.
Tony Parker obviously is a good friend of yours, and
there's a good chance that he's going to go into
the Hall of Fame this year. I know that'll be
a proud moment for you. Greg Popovitch may join him
as well. First of all, your thoughts on Tony his
(10:54):
accomplishments in basketball, how far he came from when you
guys were teenagers, and then maybe a few thoughts about
pop as well. Well, Tony, what's amazing is you never
could tell how far he would go. You know, it
would always go one step more and one step higher
year after year, and so you know, from since he
(11:14):
was sixteen, you're like, Okay, he's got high potential. It's
going to get better. And then every year you kind
of you know, he surprised people by getting even better
and better and better and and learning new things and
the maturity that he acquired over the years. Um, he
just you know, developing the all of Fame player that
we have today and Greg Popovich playing for him for
(11:34):
a few years. Playing from pop was definitely, you know,
a great experience, you know in my life, you know,
probably the best coach. I haven't seen all the coaches
from all the different eras, so it's it's hard to tell,
but definitely from you know the era, the best coach
that's out there. Um, you know, the results that he
(11:55):
had speaks for himself. But also being able to be
with him and interact with him on the daily basis,
you know, you can tell that's the kind of coach
that you want to play for meet self. We're the
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very details itself inc more as you played for that
(12:47):
championship team in fourteen, but that championship team went through
a huge disappointment the year before, And I hate to
bring up twenty thirteen, but I don't know if twenty
fourteen happens without the disappointment of twenty thirteen. What do
you remember most about the disappoint moment of Game six
in Game seven and how that might have really kind
of forged you guys to go forward for the next year. Definitely,
you know, the twenty fourteen Championship was built on the
(13:10):
deception from the final in twenty thirteen, because it was
it was it was still like a great series, you know,
and we felt that we paid good during those series.
And the last second of the Game six and the
last shot at the last second just heard it us
a lot. Jane Catchers put up the track go three time,
(13:42):
and we had that in mind basically the whole season,
following from the first day of training camp, watching the
tape and watching the moments of this game, and not
just that play, but all the plays before that. We
could have avoided met us look at the details and
(14:02):
you know, all the games are played in the details,
and we were so much more focused the year after
that because of it. We were, you know, playing into
every detail and uh and that's how we could you know,
play close to perfect. Guys were saying privately they were
hoping that Miami would come out of the East. We're
hoping for that revenge, for that redemption. I didn't think
(14:23):
about it that way, but yeah, I didn't know mind
for sure. And it was, you know, good to get redemption,
good to play against them again, But we would have
been somebody else would have been the same bors. This
the fiftieth anniversary of this franchise. So you've got a
chance to play against the Spurs as a member of
the Phoenix Sun the Atlanta Hawks to Charlotte Podcast and
then got to play with the Spurs. Oh, you played
one year in Utah too, that we didn't mention. But
(14:43):
when you think about the history of the legacy of
the Spurs in the NBA, what are your thoughts about that.
I mean, that's what it is, a legacy, you know,
the thing that was built over the years starting with
David Robinson and Kim then came back when Pop start coaching,
you know, and basically, I mean, that's the legacy that
(15:06):
I know and uh, and that's what I remember definitely
as a players, when you know, Pop start coaching that team, uh,
and then everything that followed this guy being you know,
staying so long, so many years together the Big Three,
and being able to get so many championship. Um, it's
(15:27):
a dynasty you know, of of of an amazing group
of player, amazing organization as well, because to keep these
guys together and to bring the right pieces as well
to be in the championship and it has been so
many over the years. You know, guys like Brisebo and
guys like Danny Green, all these guys that were able
(15:47):
to come in and uh and and be a part
of this dynasty. Also you know, a big a bigger
close to the to the organization and to the front
office and r C before and the build all these
years as well. Thanks very much for that. Before we
let you go, I wanted to ask you about what
you're doing these days. You're staying close to the game,
aren't you. I'm staying a little close to the game.
(16:10):
I'm doing part time job. You're the president of the Metropolitans, No,
not anymore, you gave that up. I'm the gem of
the French national team. So yeah, I'm getting ready for
the Olympics and the World Cups and all these for
the French national team. So I'm staying in basketball. I'm
staying in contact with all the French players playing in
the NBA to get them ready for the summer. Yeah,
(16:32):
there's some good young French players coming up. We understand
there is a few. You know, these drafts are going
to be interesting, so yeah, hopefully it's going to be
you know, the next generation. It's going to be great.
Boris is so great to see you for so many
fond memories of covering you through the years. Really appreciate
the time today and I hope that you enjoyed tonight
as they honor you, and it will be well deserved
for sure. Thank you very much. So as a pleasure
(16:53):
to thank you that as Boris d I remember the
twenty fourteen's first championship team. This has been the soundest
first podcast present of I s w BC. I'm Bill
shaning until next time. So long, everybody,
Welcome to another edition of Salvos First podcast on the
longtime radio voice the Spurs, Bill Shoulding, and we've got
a very very special guest today the show, by the Way,
presented by s WBC. Boris d I'll spent four years
with the Spurs, an important part of the championship team
in fourteen, and we will get to that certainly, but
a boris always good to have you and see you.
It's you're a sight for sore eyes because you were
(00:32):
such a regular around here with that big smile and
your espresso machine in the locker room. And you're gonna
get to hear the cheers this evening as we bring
you back to honor you. So that's gonna be a
special moment for you. Yeah, thank you. It's always always
always great to be back to come back to San
Antonio and the fans always been so supportive and all
the years that would be there, so you know, I
(00:52):
always enjoyed. I enjoyed every minute that I was here
and so so happy to be back in see fens again.
You know, the Spurs obviously were one of the teams
that started to really imp arace international players, and you've
got to be a big part of that, and not
only you, but your teammates as well. Did you feel
a special welcome with the crowd here as far as
the international players are concerned, Yes, I mean it was
(01:13):
a melting pot, you know, of players, and we used
to call each other the United Nations, like we're coming
from all sorts of different continents and countries, and it's
always been great, and the fans always supported that and
actually you know, took proud into it, and the foreign
Legion was another nickname that you guys had, and then
of course that the bench was very effective. Let's start
at the beginning. I born in northern France. Your mother
(01:35):
one of the great basketball players of all time, a
Hall of Famer in France, and your father was a
track athlete in Senegal. Correct, Yeah, correct, So yeah, my
mom and my dad met to sport. Actually that went
to the same sports school in Paris, and that's how
I came to me. And so, you know, followed the
footstep of my mom. I could have a good track
and field, but I followed my mom footstep and really
(01:58):
get the passion of basketball right away. You were born
in a smaller town right in northern France, but did you.
So I was born in Paris, right next to outside
of Paris, but I left when I was nine months
old and went to the southwest actually, and so I
grew up all my life in the southwest of France.
What was it like as far as being a basketball
player or knowing that that was going to be a future.
When did you know the basketball is be a part
(02:18):
of your future and was there any basketball available to
you where you were? Well, I no idea it was
going to be my future as my work. I know
it was my passion. I know I love to play,
but I thought I would play as an amateur, you know,
basically my whole life. And I had no idea until
I actually turned sixteen seventeen and it became possible for
me to actually become pro in France, and so it
(02:40):
was really like step by step. It was, you know,
not a set goal for me. I was just enjoying
having fun playing basketball, and then all of a sudden,
some professional teams got interested. When did you first cross
pants with Tony Parker in Paris? When we were sixteen,
That's when that's when we met and we played together
with Tony and it was, you know, just a great
(03:01):
experience those years in our life. We're a lot of fun.
Did you guys stay close or did you kind of
separate and then come back together when you were teammates,
because I know that obviously you were best man Tony's wedding.
You guys are extremely close, But did you stay close
all that time? Yeah? We stay close the whole time.
I mean we from starting in Paris who were in
the same classroom, so we'd see each other all day
(03:22):
basically because get up, go to school, sit next to
each other in school, and then from school we had
to practice a day, we would go to practice practice
together and then I've lunched together at dinner together, so
we would stay together the whole time, and so we
stay friends. In were you both involved in the French
national team at that time, we were involving the youth
national team, so yeah, we were playing in the youth
(03:44):
national team and we won a championship under eighteen, the
European Championship, and that's the first thing we went together.
And I think he really cement this one. So even
at a young age, Boar, as you were traveling quite
a bit, I would think, so, did that you know,
give you this kind of a worldly experience at a
young age. Yeahs, at a young age. We would go
from places to places, didn't have much time to actually visit,
(04:05):
but we would go to different countries that people didn't
even go for a vacation. We play in Slovakia, we
played in in Georgia, we played in Spain and Greece
and so many places. As a young guys, it was
just great for us to experience that. And you had
some very good young French players coming up at that time,
(04:27):
including you and Tony. Did you realize it would be
kind of a renaissance of French basketball with the guys
who were coming up behind you as well. I mean,
it was all europe kind of phenomenon. And he started
with Tony being drafted at the same time as Kirilenko,
at the same time as paulasl and all three of
them after a couple of weeks being in NBA, we're
(04:47):
playing a major role for their team, starting and actually
being one of the main players of their own team.
And I created a pathway for all the Europeans that
came after that, and so for me as well. So
you finally come to the state, so you get drafted,
buy Atlanta, and you spent a couple of years with
the Hawks, and then that you were with the Charlotte
Bobcats for a while right in Phoenix. The Phoenix Suns
(05:08):
of course, then you were with the Phoenix Suns and
a great run with them, playing with the Mars Outomire
and Steve Nash and he came very close, but you
kept running into that Silver and Black team, right the Spurs. Yeah,
it was already so yeah, after playing a couple of
years in Atlanta, played in Phoenix at some great time,
great season and going into playoffs, and yeah, we did
get eliminated by by the Spurs a couple of times.
(05:29):
What are your memories of those series as you guys
were going back and forth, because there were some and now,
of course I was on the other side of the
time boards, but there were some memorable, great series that
really went down to the wire a lot of those games. Yeah,
I remember that. It was it was a battle in
the game after game. It was a clash of two
different style as well. You know, we're a very offensive
team and the Spurs were a very defensive team, and
(05:51):
so that's why he was so impressive to what. Okay,
you leave Charlotte and tell us how that whole thing
happened when you go from the Bobcats to the Spurs,
And was Tony Parker involved in any So basically, the
last couple of years the Bobcats, Um, it wasn't going
so well. Um. And yeah, I just got to fall
out with the coach, and so I wanted to go
(06:13):
somewhere else. Uh. And so we did a buyout with
the Bobcats and then I could choose a team to
finish the season. So it was well in March already
of the season, uh, and to choose between the different teams,
and at the time Boston Celtics was pretty interested going
(06:33):
into the playoffs. They just wanted to get somebody else.
And then sant Antonio Spurs as well. But obviously I
knew Tony and I a little insight of, you know,
the way it was working here and the mentality and
the philosophy of the team and of pop and so um,
it was an easy choice for me that coming year.
I knew what I was coming into Charlotte was a
(06:54):
team that was struggling at the time compared with what
the Spurs were doing at the time. Because the Spurs
were in the middle of this unbelievable run. What were
your thoughts and trying to fit in with this team
that was already established. Well, it was so easy to
fit in because of all the players, and like I said,
the philosophy was very similar to, you know, what I
wanted to do anyway, and so being able to just
be a team player, you know, looking for your teammates,
(07:17):
be unselfish, and so it was easy for me to
actually fit in with that team in the philosophy. You know,
we hear the term the beautiful game, and that was
course made famous in the fourteen finals. When you think
of the beautiful game, what do you think of? I
think about the team play, you know, and the d
selfishness and uh and players looking for each other. And
(07:42):
so to me, that's what it is. And looking at
that video that was made and Magic Johnson talking about it,
it's even you know, one of my ero growing up
as well. Was was just great to see that. I
watched a video sometime and just talking about how we
moved the ball and now we passed the ball to
each other and we trusted each other as well, and
that's what the beautiful game was. There's one beautiful play
(08:03):
where you have a wraparound past the Thiago in the
finals against Miami. Yeah, i'd advantag John Away he comes
to the the double team behind that passed the splitter. Well,
what a beautiful look for Boris taff I'm still speachless
at this past. And I mean you got shot well
over fifty percent I think fifty four percent in that
entire series. But that was one of those signature plays
(08:27):
and showed the team play. And you talk about getting
everybody involved in. Thiago became a very good friend of yours.
Of course, you guys had that coffee club together. That
must be special moments when you look back at it
and the relationship you have with each year teammates, but
especially that little poor group that you guys had, Yes,
for sure, and you know the commanderie plays a big
role in the team's that actually, you know, we can
(08:47):
go foreign the playoffs and win championships. And so the
commaraderie his team was was unbelievable. You know, everybody liked
each other, you know, all those team dealers that we do.
Always was a great fun and uh and yeah, we
would you know, be great friends outside the court, and
that would translate on the court when we would easily
find each other or I'm going to ask you a
(09:08):
couple of player questions and just your thoughts when I
say that player's name, because we're doing this as a podcast,
but we're also doing it as part of the docu
series the fiftieth anniversary of the Spurs Tim duncan Well team.
You know, before I came here, anyway, it was, you know,
same one of the players that I looked up to.
I wouldn't say growing up because then it's going to
(09:29):
feel old, but as a teenager before I get to
the NBA, definitely was a player that I admired before
coming here and h and that admire even more after
I came and play with him. Just seeing the professionalism
what he brings, the aura that he has on a
team and making you know, this team follow the lead.
(09:50):
You know, the leadership that he would have was something
very special. Manus nobly Manu is the is the fire,
you know, the fire from Merchant Tina, And never know
what you're gonna get with him. You never know what
kind of play is going to do. But you know
it's gonna be sparkly. You know it's gonna be pretty
(10:11):
explosive whatever you do. Did he have a reputation long
before you met him and he came to the NBA.
I mean, did you know about him in Europe? Ah? Yeah,
of course same. I watched him play when he was
playing in Italy. It was one of the best best
teams I ever played in Italy as well, you know,
winning the UP and the EuroLeague over there. So yeah,
(10:32):
I already knew and was watching man who playing in
Europe before you get to the to the NBA. But yeah,
you know, you never know if the game is going
to translate from Europe, but for him, he translate perfectly.
Tony Parker obviously is a good friend of yours, and
there's a good chance that he's going to go into
the Hall of Fame this year. I know that'll be
a proud moment for you. Greg Popovitch may join him
as well. First of all, your thoughts on Tony his
(10:54):
accomplishments in basketball, how far he came from when you
guys were teenagers, and then maybe a few thoughts about
pop as well. Well, Tony, what's amazing is you never
could tell how far he would go. You know, it
would always go one step more and one step higher
year after year, and so you know, from since he
(11:14):
was sixteen, you're like, Okay, he's got high potential. It's
going to get better. And then every year you kind
of you know, he surprised people by getting even better
and better and better and and learning new things and
the maturity that he acquired over the years. Um, he
just you know, developing the all of Fame player that
we have today and Greg Popovich playing for him for
(11:34):
a few years. Playing from pop was definitely, you know,
a great experience, you know in my life, you know,
probably the best coach. I haven't seen all the coaches
from all the different eras, so it's it's hard to tell,
but definitely from you know the era, the best coach
that's out there. Um, you know, the results that he
(11:55):
had speaks for himself. But also being able to be
with him and interact with him on the daily basis,
you know, you can tell that's the kind of coach
that you want to play for meet self. We're the
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very details itself inc more as you played for that
(12:47):
championship team in fourteen, but that championship team went through
a huge disappointment the year before, And I hate to
bring up twenty thirteen, but I don't know if twenty
fourteen happens without the disappointment of twenty thirteen. What do
you remember most about the disappoint moment of Game six
in Game seven and how that might have really kind
of forged you guys to go forward for the next year. Definitely,
you know, the twenty fourteen Championship was built on the
(13:10):
deception from the final in twenty thirteen, because it was
it was it was still like a great series, you know,
and we felt that we paid good during those series.
And the last second of the Game six and the
last shot at the last second just heard it us
a lot. Jane Catchers put up the track go three time,
(13:42):
and we had that in mind basically the whole season,
following from the first day of training camp, watching the
tape and watching the moments of this game, and not
just that play, but all the plays before that. We
could have avoided met us look at the details and
(14:02):
you know, all the games are played in the details,
and we were so much more focused the year after
that because of it. We were, you know, playing into
every detail and uh and that's how we could you know,
play close to perfect. Guys were saying privately they were
hoping that Miami would come out of the East. We're
hoping for that revenge, for that redemption. I didn't think
(14:23):
about it that way, but yeah, I didn't know mind
for sure. And it was, you know, good to get redemption,
good to play against them again, But we would have
been somebody else would have been the same bors. This
the fiftieth anniversary of this franchise. So you've got a
chance to play against the Spurs as a member of
the Phoenix Sun the Atlanta Hawks to Charlotte Podcast and
then got to play with the Spurs. Oh, you played
one year in Utah too, that we didn't mention. But
(14:43):
when you think about the history of the legacy of
the Spurs in the NBA, what are your thoughts about that.
I mean, that's what it is, a legacy, you know,
the thing that was built over the years starting with
David Robinson and Kim then came back when Pop start coaching,
you know, and basically, I mean, that's the legacy that
(15:06):
I know and uh, and that's what I remember definitely
as a players, when you know, Pop start coaching that team, uh,
and then everything that followed this guy being you know,
staying so long, so many years together the Big Three,
and being able to get so many championship. Um, it's
(15:27):
a dynasty you know, of of of an amazing group
of player, amazing organization as well, because to keep these
guys together and to bring the right pieces as well
to be in the championship and it has been so
many over the years. You know, guys like Brisebo and
guys like Danny Green, all these guys that were able
(15:47):
to come in and uh and and be a part
of this dynasty. Also you know, a big a bigger
close to the to the organization and to the front
office and r C before and the build all these
years as well. Thanks very much for that. Before we
let you go, I wanted to ask you about what
you're doing these days. You're staying close to the game,
aren't you. I'm staying a little close to the game.
(16:10):
I'm doing part time job. You're the president of the Metropolitans, No,
not anymore, you gave that up. I'm the gem of
the French national team. So yeah, I'm getting ready for
the Olympics and the World Cups and all these for
the French national team. So I'm staying in basketball. I'm
staying in contact with all the French players playing in
the NBA to get them ready for the summer. Yeah,
(16:32):
there's some good young French players coming up. We understand
there is a few. You know, these drafts are going
to be interesting, so yeah, hopefully it's going to be
you know, the next generation. It's going to be great.
Boris is so great to see you for so many
fond memories of covering you through the years. Really appreciate
the time today and I hope that you enjoyed tonight
as they honor you, and it will be well deserved
for sure. Thank you very much. So as a pleasure
(16:53):
to thank you that as Boris d I remember the
twenty fourteen's first championship team. This has been the soundest
first podcast present of I s w BC. I'm Bill
shaning until next time. So long, everybody,
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