Spurs Not Winning on the Court, But San Antonio Wins Off of It

The San Antonio Spurs struggled this past season, but there has been a ton of impact in the community.

SAN ANTONIO - Nobody downplays individual accomplishments like the San Antonio Spurs. 

They will raise Cain with the best of them after winning the NBA title but individual awards? Meh. 

Gregg Popovich has cringed, at least publicly, each time he's won the NBA Coach of the Year. Tim Duncan didn't bother to even wear pants when late Commissioner David Stern came all the way to present him with the Most Valuable Player trophy. Google the photo if you don't believe me. Pop disdains glorified attention as did low key island guy Duncan and that attitude has washed through the Spurs organization for over 20 years. 

Once Pop retires, if he ever does, I have a hard time believing that "corporate knowledge" as team officials refer to it won't remain a core value in San Antonio. The team comes first. Period. Whether they win or lose, the Spurs will never put winning over integrity or being humble which is rare in pro sports.

There are of course exceptions to this rule of team first, individual stuff second. The Spurs are extremely proud and have publicly bragged about young point guard Tre Jones who was a finalist this year for the NBA's "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice" award. 

Jones has spent hours of his time in Uvalde, Tx., doing whatever he can to bring some positivity and good vibes to this little town ninety minutes from the AT&T Center where Jones plies his craft. Uvalde, of course, endured a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in May of last year. Since then, the Spurs have volunteered much of their time in helping this town of fifteen thousand.

On Wednesday night, the organization was named Humanitarian Team of the Year at the ESPY's mostly for its work in Uvalde. While you won't get much response individually from the Spurs you can bet they are proud of it. They just won't say it. 

Popovich has for years given out sneakers to children in lower income neighborhoods here and the last thing he wants to do is take much credit for it. Many years ago when a local high schooler named Shaquille O'Neal couldn't find shoes that fit while he was a star at Cole High School it was Pop who donated a pair to him. 

I've always said that I just want my teams to win games and entertain me. Character didn't matter as much. If they just so happened to be good people in the process then it was merely a bonus. I've changed that tune over time. Observing the Spurs has helped soften my old stance. It's absolutely important that a pro sports organization, a pillar in a community, have good dudes. Pants not necessary.

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