A Spurs icon is returning to the bench in San Antonio.
Tim Duncan has joined Gregg Popovich's staff as an assistant coach, the team announced Monday. Will Hardy also has been elevated to assistant coach.
Spurs announce Will Hardy and Tim Duncan as Assistant Coaches.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 22, 2019
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The team later Spurs Sports & Entertainment announces leadership changes.
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Duncan, 43, spent his entire 19-year playing career with the Spurs and retired following the 2015-16 season.
Now he'll rejoin the man who has led the franchise since 1996 in attempting to get San Antonio back to the heights it enjoyed during Duncan's heyday.
“It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan’s assistant, that he returns the favor,” Popovich said in a press release.
Longtime Popovich assistants Ettore Messina and Ime Udoka departed the Spurs for other opportunities this offseason, opening up spots on a staff that has churned out a number of future NBA head coaches over the years — Mike Budenholzer, Brett Brown and Monty Williams among them.
Duncan and Hardy will join Chip Engelland and Becky Hammon on staff for 2019-20.
