Spurs Boban Marjanovic: “I Try To Be Useful”

The San Antonio Spurs Rookie Boban Marjanovic is not easy to miss. Standing at 7-foot-3 Marjanovic makes the most of his time on the floor when his number is called.

As he sits on the bench during games, Marjanovich is not just waiting for his number to be called to enter the game. He in fact is lucky to be able to watch a future Hall of Famers on his team, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Though he is getting 6.5 minutes per game, the Spurs big man which many have nicknamed him, “The Bobanator” says when he enters a game he is just trying to be useful as ESPN’s Michael Wright reported.

“I try to be useful,” he said.

Useful he has been this season. Monday, Marjanovic played a key role in the Spurs 101-95 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Duncan sitting out due to soreness in his right knee, David West was inserted into the starting lineup which freed up some time for Marjanovic.

Spurs were led by Marjanovic sparking a run at the end of the first heading into the second quarter to give the AT&T Center and the Spurs a jolt of energy. In 15 minutes of play, he was perfect from the floor shooting 7-of-7 with tying a team high with 17 points.

Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Boban Marjanovic (40) dunks past Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Spurs won 119-68. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

David West breaks down the play of Marjanovic and stated that many people look at him as just a big man but in fact he can play.

“I think people look at his size and sort of think he’s a big stiff,” forward David West said. “But Boban’s a hell of a player.”

A three-time MVP of the Serbian Super League, Marjanovic averaged nearly 17 points and 11 rebounds in his most recent season playing for Crvena Zvezda before joining the Spurs.

When he does enter the game, to some of his teammates, especially Danny Green, anything that the big man does excites him as much as it does the crowd.

“It’s interesting to see him do anything,” Green said. “Anytime he’s in the game, it still surprises me. I get excited anytime he dunks the ball without jumping, or blocks a shot or how mobile he is. I think it excites the crowd, too. He’s a fan favorite already. Anything he does at his size I think is always pretty exciting and interesting.”

In his last two games, Marjanovic has averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, hitting 80 percent from the field and 91.7 percent from the free throw line.

Marjanovic though is happy that he is on a team where he is being used for his height and abilities.

“I try to help my teammates, and they help me with the offense,” Marjanovic said. “It’s good. We play together, and they use my height, and I feel comfortable when I go out on the court. I’m very happy because I’m a part of this team.”

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