Spurs Confirm Double Appointment After Losing Ime Udoka To 76ers

San Antonio Spurs have announced the appointment of former player and franchise legend Tim Duncan and Will Hardy as Gregg Popovich’s assistant coaches for the upcoming campaign. Both the candidates have been longtime servants of the San Antonio franchise albeit in different capacities.

Duncan, a five-time NBA champion, joined the Spurs in 1997 and played 19 seasons before retiring from the game in 2016. He is, without doubt, the greatest player in franchise history having led them five championships on the way to winning three NBA Finals MVP honors.

“It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan’s assistant, that he returns the favor,” Popovich said after Duncan was appointed one of his assistants, as quoted on Spurs’ official site.

Hardy, on the other hand, has been with the Spurs since 2010 when he joined as an intern in the basketball operations department after graduating from Williams College. He has gradually worked his way up serving in different positions and has now earned his way onto the Popovich’s bench for the 2019-20 season.

"Will Hardy is a talented, young basketball mind who has earned a great deal of respect from everyone in the organization thanks to his knowledge, spirit and personality,” Popovich said of Hardy, with many expecting him to have a key role this season.

Popovich had to look for new assistants after losing top assistants Ime Udoka and Ettore Messina last month. The former, who worked under Popovich for seven years at Spurs, agreed to become Brett Brown’s lead assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers.