Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs
I have to admit – I became as giddy as a little boy eating candy when I found out that NBA All-Star and 12-year veteran, David West, shunned $11 million to join the re-loaded San Antonio Spurs this season.
I may be the lone wolf when I say it, but I think the best thing that happened to the franchise this offseason was the luring of “D-West” at a bargain rate. And I believe that David West has always secretly wanted to be a Spur. Consider:
- His brave and accurate prediction about the 1999 NBA Finals;
- Growing up, his favorite professional basketball player was David Robinson;
- He changed his jersey number to 21 after eight years in the league;
- He has been known to have a book in his hand on team trips;
- His career has been characterized by risk avoidance, financial frugality and community service;
- He admits that he has always respected the Spurs as an opponent;
- He spent his first days as a Spur quietly watching Tim Duncan go through his workout routine.
I’d like to think that “DX” has always secretly chanted “Go Spurs Go” (except when he was playing against them, of course).
The story of why David West left Indianapolis is as intriguing as the reason why he took a less lucrative contract to play in San Antonio. During a news conference at the end of last season, the Indiana front office said that they were extremely dissatisfied with starting center Roy Hibbert – his contract, his performance and his attitude. When West heard this, his gut (I imagine) told him that something was very wrong with the organization he played for and he no longer agreed with the principles of his employer.
He thought, “It isn’t on one guy, it’s on the group.” – a very “Spursy” mantra if there ever was one.
More evidence of West’s Spurs-like attitude: taking a huge pay cut to play in a top-notch organization as a bench player (despite being a starter in the NBA for more than a decade and still considered to be in his prime!).
One major benefit of giving up millions of dollars to play is the rejuvenation of his mind. Aside from finding himself staring at the Big Fundamental, he has also been picking Tim’s and Manu’s brains. As a basketball junkie, West has said there is no better environment than San Antonio for learning more about the game.
I can only imagine how much West is going to grow, once he talks to Coach Pop, one-on-one. Not only will he be delving into one of the greatest basketball minds of our time, he will also have the special honor of deep, intellectual conversations on a wide variety of life’s subjects. That may be the real x-factor in the decision made by the basketball player known as “The X-Factor.”
I am eager to follow David’s contributions to the beautiful game, to watch his insightful post-game interviews, and to hear of his interactions with the fans of San Antonio.
I may find myself fighting other fans for the chance to shake his hand (and offer something for him to sign, of course).
If Santa Claus is reading this, all I want for Christmas is a David West Spurs jersey – I promise to leave milk and a Spurs donut as a proper enticement.
Go Spurs Go!
