Speaking to reporters at the Spurs’ media day on Monday, head coach Gregg Popovich suggested that while Tim Duncan is no longer a member of the team’s roster, he’ll still be around. According to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (via Twitter), Popovich said that Duncan will have an official role with the Spurs this season: “Coach of Whatever He Wants to Be.”
Buck Harvey of The San Antonio Express-News had reported earlier this month that many people within the Spurs organization believed Duncan would eventually join the team in a full-time role, perhaps focusing on personnel rather than coaching. When the team announced its new coaching and front office hires and promotions a day later, Duncan wasn’t mentioned. However, Popovich says the future Hall-of-Famer will be involved this season, though he won’t be on the bench with the other Spurs assistants (Twitter link via Jim Lefko of The Express-News).
Popovich’s vagueness suggests that Duncan’s exact role – if he has one – hasn’t been officially determined yet, so we’ll see if the Spurs eventually make an announcement and give him a formal title. Either way, it seems Duncan will remain a part of the organization with which he spent his entire 19-year NBA playing career.