San Antonio Spurs: 3 Ways Thaddeus Young will propel rebuild

3. Young is the perfect leader for the Spurs’ situation

Thaddeus Young has never really won anything in the NBA. He’s never had the chance. He’s played for the woeful Sixers of the late aughts and early 2010s, the Timberwolves (who are always bad), the pre-Kyrie Nets, the post-Paul George Pacers, and the Bulls last season. It’s time for him to make a playoff push.

Young has been called a leader and the guy every coach wants in the game regardless of the night he’s having. It’s about his presence. Murray, Johnson, White, and Walker can fill up the stat sheet. Young can be a coaching presence on the floor. 

Zach LaVine has had high praise for his former teammate, calling him the MVP of the franchise. I really appreciate that the Spurs are seemingly fully committing to the young core, but having a locker room presence or leader in a huddle is always a plus. Young and raw teams are fun, but they don’t win playoff games. Young evens this team out by proving an anchor that a franchise can build with.

As Murray develops into a leader, it’s great for him to have a sidekick on the roster to help him along. Young seems like the type of guy who won’t hold anyone’s hand but will make sure they know what to do right and what they’ve done wrong in a productive way. DeRozan left the Spurs after showcasing his class and leadership, and San Antonio found the perfect veteran to fill that gap.