By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-07 14:16:54
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
萨克拉门托——国王队前锋道格·麦克德莫特(Doug McDermott)对马刺队、格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)教练以及圣安东尼奥的爱很深。
“我在那里学到了很多，也成长了很多——不仅仅是作为一名篮球运动员，而是作为一个人——为有史以来最伟大的教练之一效力，从他那里学到了如何成为一个更好的职业球员，”麦克德莫特说道。在2024年2月的交易截止日前，他为马刺队效力了两个半赛季后被交易至印第安纳。
“我永远都会感激他们为我所做的一切，”这位效力联盟第11年的老将，在国王队为周五晚上对阵马刺队的比赛进行投篮训练后说道。
麦克德莫特表示，这个赛季从远处关注马刺队时，他经历了“很多情绪”。马刺队遭遇了波波维奇在11月初轻微中风，以及全明星中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)上个月被诊断出右肩血栓的情况。
“今年他们绝对在我的祈祷之中，”麦克德莫特说，“看到波波维奇这样让人难受，我希望他能在某个时候健康回归。显然， 文班亚马 （维克托·文班亚马）是一个特殊的天才，更是个更好的人，所以你永远不希望看到任何人经历这样的事情。但我认为这对他来说只是一个小问题，10年后我们都不会再谈论它了。”
马刺队表示，76岁的波波维奇和21岁的 文班亚马 预计都会完全康复。
波波维奇上周表示，他本赛季不会回归执教马刺队，以便“继续专注于我的健康，希望我将来能够重返教练席”。
马刺队认为 文班亚马 的疾病不会影响他未来的健康和篮球活动，并预计他将为下赛季的开始做好准备。
麦克德莫特在十月份与国王队签下了一份为期一年的合同。他说，萨克拉门托作为一个只有一支主要职业运动队的市场，让他想起了圣安东尼奥。
“这是一个充满激情的球迷群体，”他说，“这确实让我想起了圣安东尼奥，他们每晚都会来看比赛，而且在镇上的任何地方，人们都会对你说些什么。所以，这是一个好地方。我真的很喜欢在这里打球。”
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks with forward Doug McDermott during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in San Antonio. Portland won 128-112. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich greets former Spurs Doug McDermott #20 of the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) guards Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott (7) during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Kings, 116-96.
点击查看原文：McDermott says former Spurs teammates, coaches in his prayers
McDermott says former Spurs teammates, coaches in his prayers
SACRAMENTO - Kings forward Doug McDermott’s affection for the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich and San Antonio runs deep.
“I learned a lot there and I grew up a lot there - not only as a basketball player but as a person - playing for one of the greatest coaches of all time, taking knowledge from him about how to be a better pro,” said McDermott, who played for the Spurs for two and a half season before they traded him to Indiana in a deadline deal in February 2024.
“I’ll always appreciate them for what they did for me,” the 11th-year pro said after the Kings shootaround in preparation for their game against the Spurs on Friday night.
McDermott said he’s experienced “a lot of emotions” this season while watching from afar as the Spurs have dealt with losing Popovich to the mild stroke he suffered in early November and All-Star center Victor Wembanyama to a blood clot in his right shoulder that was diagnosed last month.
“They’ve definitely been in my prayers this year,” McDermott said. " It’s tough seeing Pop like that, and I hope he can make a healthy return at some point. And obviously Wemby is just a special talent but even a better human being, so you never want to see anyone go through something like that. But I think this is only going to be something so minor for him where we’re not going to be talking about it in 10 years."
The Spurs have said both Popovich, 76, and Wembanyama, 21, are expected to make full recoveries.
Popovich said last week he won’t return to coach the Spurs this season so he could "continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”
The Spurs believe Wembanyama’s ailment won’t affect his future health and basketball activities and expect him to be ready for the start of next season.
McDermott signed a one-year deal with the Kings in October. He said Sacramento as a market with just one major professional sports reminds him a lot of San Antonio.
“It’s such a passionate fan base,” he said. “It does remind me a lot of San Antonio where they come out every night and anywhere you go in town people are going to say something to you. So, it’s a good spot. I really, really enjoy playing here.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News