San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich’s extension bodes well for young talent

By signing a three-year extension to remain figurehead of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich reaffirmed the idea that this team’s future is bright.

To sign an extended contract at one’s job, they have to see the potential for a bright future within the role. No one is going to stick around if they don’t believe in what’s being built, regardless of their field of choice. For the San Antonio Spurs, re-signing Gregg Popovich to a three-year deal reaffirms this franchise’s confidence in the young core that’s being built.

While veteran leaders headline the lineup, Spurs fans are oftentimes more vocal about their excitement for the brewing group of young talent being cultivated in the Alamo City. The guard rotation of the future is nearly locked with All-Defensive selection Dejounte Murray leading the way with sharpshooter Bryn Forbes, two-way combo guard Derrick White and athletic shot creator Lonnie Walker IV honing their skills as well.

While the frontcourt is mostly dominated by veterans, Jakob Poeltl is only 23-years-old and has already proven that he can be a starter in this league. Meanwhile, two-way player Drew Eubanks and 2018 second round selection Chimezie Metu spent the 2018-19 season developing as players and people as rookies in the NBA and G League.

If Popovich wasn’t confident that his organization is moving toward something special, he wouldn’t sign on to remain captain of a sinking ship. It’s evident that he sees what the fanbase does in this group – the charisma, attitude and work ethic necessary to compete at the highest level of the NBA.

More from Air Alamo

• Spurs show remarkable poise against Bulls, unlike many fans
• Devin Vassell is the latest in the Spurs’ collection of silent assassins
• San Antonio Spurs: 5 Players to avoid in any LaMarcus Aldridge deal
• Is Gregg Popovich hiding Luka Samanic as a secret weapon?
• San Antonio Spurs News: More DeRozan trade talk from Chris Haynes

This isn’t to say that it won’t take time, work and luck for this group to realize its potential. San Antonio’s young group already suffered an earth-shattering loss when Murray tore his ACL in the 2018 preseason. Luckily for them, Murray has the mental fortitude and dedication to work his way back into playing shape with the help of the Spurs’ expert medical staff.

This franchise is notorious for finding and developing talent from within, but its been a long time since they had the draft capital that they’ve acquired leading into the 2019 NBA Draft. With two first-round picks and another in the second round, general manager R.C. Buford will have a chance at snagging some lottery talent with the 19th overall pick while utilizing the trusty 29th overall selection that’s been so kind to them in the past.

San Antonio selected 29th in consecutive years, snagging Murray and White in back-to-back drafts. This is an excellent sign of what’s to come, considering Buford built a dangerous backcourt duo for the future so deep into the preliminary round of the draft.

One thing that Spurs fans have been accustomed to doing is trusting Popovich to guide the organization in the right direction. With another three years of Pop running things in the Alamo City, it’s safe to say that the future is bright.