Paul Garcia: Coach Hardy on Luka Samanic: “Luka is a really talented kid. He’s taking coaching really well. He’s just a young kid who is learning everyday. We’ve seen a lot of growth from him.”
Luka Samanic Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 01/09/00
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:209 lbs. / 94.8 kg.
Salary: $2,689,920
Born: 01/09/00
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:209 lbs. / 94.8 kg.
Salary: $2,689,920
Tom Orsborn: LaMarcus Aldridge is out vs. Orlando, per #Spurs injury report. With LA missing his second straight game with a right shoulder strain, rookie Luka Samanic will once again be available. Per injury report, Chimezie Metu and Quinndary Weatherspoon are on G League assignment.
Jeff McDonald: Hearing Luka Samanic will indeed be in uniform tonight for the Spurs. Nothing given — and in fact I’d probably bet against it — but theoretically possible the 19th pick in the June draft sees his first NBA minutes vs Mavs
Two first-rounders who played here in Vegas that I’d be pretty worried about: Luka Samanic and Zhaire Smith. Smith was a 2018 first-round pick of the Sixers who missed nearly all of last season due to a severe food allergy reaction. He’s only 20, but has struggled to make an impact even in G League games due to his limited skill level. A phenomenal leaper who does his best work in transition, the 6-4 Smith’s skill level hasn’t nearly caught up with his leaping ability – right now he’s basically a 4 in a 2’s body. The surprising part is that he hasn’t been able to bring his athleticism to bear, even in places you’d expect to see it – he rarely draws fouls, for instance, and his rates of blocks, steals and rebounds in the G League have been unremarkable.
Paul Garcia: The Spurs have recalled Keldon Johnson and Luka Samanic from the Austin Spurs.
Patty Mills, DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray journeyed to Austin on Friday for the season opener of the Spurs’ G League team, which includes 2019 draft picks Luka Samanic, Keldon Johnson and Quinndary Weatherspoon. “I think it was important for us to go up there and show our support because we do have a core group of young guys now who are all going through that process together,” Mills said Saturday after the Spurs 135-115 loss to Boston. “The more they can see us supporting them, the more they can settle into that process and environment to get the most out of it. “And we had fun, us three hanging out there and supporting them.”
The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have assigned rookies Luka Samanic and Keldon Johnson to the Austin Spurs. The Austin Spurs begin their training camp today and Samanic and Johnson are expected to spend considerable time with Austin as they learn the Spurs’ system and get some playing time, which will be beneficial to their development.
