San Antonio Spurs: 15 players you may have forgot played in San Antonio
No. 9: Nick Van Exel (2005-06)
Bridged between the mid-1990s and early-2000s, the career of Nick Van Exel is one of the most compelling to go back and indulge in. Carved from the Iverson-esque, “smallest guy with the biggest heart” mold, Van Exel was both a walking highlight and a walking bucket, ending his career as a one-time All-Star, and a player who scored in double-figures in every year besides the finale.
Unfortunately for all involved, Van Exel’s career came to an end in San Antonio in 2005-06. At age 34, the off-the-bounce, knifing speed he once had in Los Angeles, had diminished. Still, he proved a capable de facto backup point guard for Tony Parker, playing 65 games for a 63-win Spurs team.
History remembers Van Exel’s signing with a comedic view. ESPN.com quoted former San Antonio Express-News columnist Buck Harvey, in explaining how Van Exel appeared to be everything the Spurs’ culture was not.
"The last time the Spurs and Van Exel were on the floor together, in January, told of that. Then Van Exel was ejected. Another time, he was suspended seven games for pushing a ref. Another time, he flashed an obscene gesture in, coincidentally, San Antonio. Another time, TV cameras caught him in a huddle yelling at then-Lakers coach Del Harris. Then there’s the story Shaquille O’Neal repeated in his autobiography. During the 1998 playoffs, when the Lakers were one game away from being swept by Utah, the players gathered for a huddle after practice. They put their hands together and did the ritual cheer, “1-2-3, team.” But instead of saying “Team,” Van Exel yelled out “Cancun!”"
Sacrilege or not, Popovich saw enough in Van Exel’s past — citing his leadership and two-way success — as a reason for the signing.
At the time, Van Exel was second among players in 3-point shooting, something he still did at old age. Together, the two worked toward an amicable relationship, and if not for Manu Ginobili’s foul against Dallas in the 2006 West Semifinals, Van Exel could’ve become one of the contributors to a possible four-peat.