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San Antonio Spurs: Boris Diaw used to drink espresso during warmups

By Dylan Carter

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 28: Boris Diaw #33 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a three point shot against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 28, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 28: Boris Diaw #33 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a three point shot against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 28, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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In the latest edition of Coffee Gang: OG Crew on the San Antonio Spurs social media, power forward Boris Diaw admitted to drinking espresso during warmups.

If there’s one thing you can rely on the 2014 San Antonio Spurs for besides masterful passing, it’s hilarious stories from one of the greatest teams of all-time. Some of the most famed members of the team—Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills—have begun a group chat that goes up on the Spurs’ social media celebrating the original “coffee gang.”

The second episode of the series went live this morning and Diaw admitted to a hilarious quirk of his that began taking place as early as his days in Phoenix. Apparently, the Spurs had a Nespresso machine in the locker room that Diaw would sneak back to while the rest of the team was warming up. With pre-game shootaround being a jumbled mess of players chucking up jumpers, Diaw decided he’d be better off sipping on espresso before the game to get himself prepared.

Diaw cited former Phoenix Suns shooting guard Raja Bell as his inspiration since Bell used to drink a Red Bull before games to get himself prepared. According to the 14-year NBA veteran, he didn’t start getting warmed up for games until three minutes before they started when layup lines took place.

Warmup routines ✅Ultimate camping trip ✅Yanny vs. Laurel debate ✅@Patty_Mills, @manuginobili, @theborisdiaw and @tiagosplitter return for more reminiscing and debates in Part ✌️ of #CoffeeGang: OG Crew ☕️@ATT | #ConnectedTogether pic.twitter.com/kMS84DCweq

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 8, 2020

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This group of friends and former teammates joked about keeping warmed up during games. For Manu, who was in the latter stages of his career when this group was together, he’d have to keep himself active during timeouts to keep his body prepared to play. Mills joined in on those antics, keeping themselves warmed up to jump into action while Boris sat idly, gingerly swinging his leg to keep himself locked in.

Given his playstyle, this all makes perfect sense for Diaw. He was never the most athletic player on the court and always tended to play at his own pace but simultaneously controlled the game for everyone around him. Even if he wasn’t pulling off the pace that his counterparts had to keep up, Diaw was always in the right spot to set a back screen or roll to the basket for a bucket.

If not for Diaw’s passion for coffee and camaraderie with his Spurs teammates, the team might not have its coffee gang tradition in place today. Now, it’s a great way for players of every generation to bond and spend time together when traveling from city-to-city competing at the highest level of their craft.

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It’s not traditional to drink a cup of espresso before an NBA basketball game but it sure does make a lot of sense for Bobo.