Totally reminded me of this: <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/07X9MxoL3YI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Steve sat down with David Aldridge [rquoter] This week's Mr. Fifteen is Spurs forward Steve Novak, who was just signed to a 10-day deal last week. The 27-year-old began the season with the Mavericks, playing in seven games before he was released in November. He then played in the NBA D-League with the Reno Bighorns, appearing in two games before getting the call-up from the Spurs. Novak is in his fifth NBA season. He was a second-round pick by the Rockets in 2006 and had some promising moments playing for Jeff Van Gundy his rookie season. But Novak was traded to the Clippers in 2008, where he played some of his best basketball, including a career-high 23 points against the Knicks in 2009. Me: Were there other opportunitites out there for you while you were in the D-League, or did you want to wait until the right NBA team called? Steve Novak: To be honest, to start the year off, my best options were overseas. But I had a son (Mack), who's seven months now. So he was a newborn. So it was important to me to stay in the U.S. I just was more secure and closer to my family. That's why I wanted to stay initially. So I went to camp with Dallas, and that worked out really well. I got let go a month ago, and then I tried to kind of see what overseas looked like. If I was more comfortable, maybe going over with the little guy. But we just decided to go to the D League to see what happens, and two games in they called. And obviously, if San Antonio calls, you jump at it. There's obviously not many better franchises in any sport out there. I was excited about it. Me: Fatherhood changes everything. Did you think at all about sitting out the season? SN: I never thought about not playing. I think it was sort of a blessing in disguise, being able to have just that month when I was released and looking for a team, to just be with him. It's time that most parents don't have, the luxury to have. I knew at the time that I wish I was still on a team, but since I'm not, at least the timing is perfect if I'm not going to be playing. Leaving is so much more difficult now. I'm on a 10-day. I haven't seen him for about 10 days now. And he's doing stuff that he wasn't doing 10 days ago. Every parent knows how it is. So it is tougher to leave. You just have your wife send you as many text pictures of him as possible. We go to Chicago in two games (Novak lives in Milwaukee) and she'll be there with him. Me: What was that month like being off and unemployed? SN: Well, you know, with the whole way the economy's been lately, it gives you at least a little bit of a look (at reality). I think that we're very blessed with the way that we're taken care of in terms of the way that we're paid. And I know that a lot of people don't have the luxury to take a month off. And I think having that month, it's nerve-wracking. You don't know what's next. You don't know if (a callup) is coming tomorrow. You don't know if it's not going to come. It definitely gave me a glimpse just into the uncertainty of not knowing what was next. Me: What was the reasoning behind Reno? Just staying sharp? SN: Really, I think after a month, I think that was enough time, where we had kind of made enough calls. We got my name out there, tried to see what was out there, and we weren't really comfortable with anything that we found. So I figured if I'm just going to be working out at home more, or going to play, it's probably better to be out there playing. Just because I think out of sight, out of mind is true in a lot of cases. Just to get out there and play, I didn't think it was going to hurt. Me: You're a little older than most first-time D-Leaguers. Did that give you any different perspective on playing there? SN: Not really. No. I think I'd been in the D League for eight or nine games my second year. And it was, I would say, I had a different perspective then, because I couldn't get called up. I was with the Rockets at the time. I was just there to get more minutes. And this time, I think, I just really had a, it was just like a Pro-Am in the summer. You're there to refine your skills, to play, to stay in shape, and everybody's in the D League for the same reason. You hope you get a callup. You hope to get a good gig overseas, something like that. That was why I was there. And it's just an understanding on the team. It's no disrespect to any of your teammates. Everybody knows that that's what it is. The coaches (know) that's what it is. So that was why I felt it was kind of...it was a good experience and it served its purpose for me very well. Me: When you first came in the league you were getting some minutes in Houston. What was your overall experience like there? SN: I loved Houston. Coming in as a rookie, I think, to a team that had veterans like Juwan Howard and Shane Battier and Dikembe (Mutombo) and Yao (Ming), those guys, I think I was on a different type of team with the Clippers. We weren't as veteran laden -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, interrupting: What the hell are you talking to him for? He hasn't played a minute! Me: I talk to everybody. SN (laughs, continuing): For me it was, my first couple of years in the NBA, it was a dream come true. To learn from guys like that was great. Obviously, I played for Jeff Van Gundy my first year, then Rick Adelman my second year, so two very different coaches. I really got to see a spectrum of coaches. It just was, to be honest, a whirlwind the first couple of years. It just happened so fast. And your contract is guaranteed, so you're not worried about what's next, what's next, what's next; you're just worried about trying to get on the court, trying to get on the court. And I still have a house in Houston. I love Houston. Me: Does having "stretch four" talent give you a chance to stick in this league, maybe moreso than five or 10 years ago? SN: I think, definitely. I may be biased, because that's my skill set. But I definitely think that stretch fours, if you look at the championship teams over the last, like you said, the last decade, I think they've all had very strong stretch fours, in terms of shooting and being able to guard four men and holding up defensively. It's just, in my mind, it's a really tough position to guard. It just gives defenses trouble. I just hope I'm right. Me: I know you just got here, but do you have any sense of this team already? SN: There's a business environment. I've been in a lot of different environments, and this one, the first day I got here, the first game that I experienced game day and the walkthrough are different than any team I've been on. It's very, very business. There's just not a lot of room for joking. I mean, there's times for the joking and the having fun and the camraderie of being with all the guys. But it's not on game day. It's not in the locker room. It's really just sort of more a quiet environment. You really just go about your business. It's not like people are checking up, like, 'Did he go and get his work in?' No, when it comes game time, you're either ready or you're not. If you play well, coach is going to keep you in; if you don't, you're coming out. It's, very, very business atmosphere. Me: Obviously on a 10-day, you don't know what the future is going to be. But if you don't make it here, if the worst thing is you get to be back with your kid, that's not all bad. SN: No, no it's not. You just have to keep perspective, especially through times when you're with a team, you're not with a team, you're at home and you're back with another team. Obviously my goal now is to make it work with this team, one, for myself, and two, because of the opportunity I'm being given on a team like this. I don't think those come along often. So I'm just going to try to make the most of it.[/rquoter]
Congrats to Steve, easy guy to root for. His game is about as one dimensional as Paper Mario, but he's damn good at what he does.
I think he will stay, Popovich is one of few coaches who can let their players know what they are good for and stick to doing it. Plus he will get plenty of open looks if he gets time. He will have to at least develop a defensive attitude.
I like Novak, and hope he stays as a spur even if he is riding on the bench or suit the whole time. There is a rumor out of New Jersey is that Troy Murphy is going to get bought out, and Mark Stein reports that his choices will be either: Mavs, Spurs or Magic. Unfortunately I don't see him sticking if Murphy joins the Spurs if he gets bought out, and the Spurs also like Marcus Cousin who was with them in the d league so they may bring him up just in case they meet with LA, and just ned an extra body for LA's size.
JMcDonald_SAEN The Spurs' impending call-up of Olyphus Jeffers, likely to come tomorrow, effectively ends the Steve Novak era. #spurs
the first part was correct, not so much the second part. "The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Steve Novak for the remainder of the season. "
...during the Spurs game yesterday, Jeff Van Gundy was gushing over Novak saying he is "on the Novak train" and said, "Novak is the BSOAT - do you know what that means? Best Shooter of All Time!". Although Jeff can be quite sarcastic, it was in the context of Novak easily stroking a few long shots off the bench so I think this was JVG legitimately being a fan of that one skill Novak has.
I've said many times in the past Novak would be a great circus performer. He just isn't smart and talented enough to be an effective offensive player in the NBA. I agree with JVG that in a 3-point shooting contest, Novak would beat anyone at this year's All-Star game (and probably any other). I have played with guys who are unbelievable when we were just shooting around with no pressure. But when we played a 3-on-3 game and the shots were contested, they came down to Earth.
I may be wrong, but I thought it was the other dude gushing about Novak and JVG then saying something like he was not a big fan.
You are wrong. JVG said Novak will never lose a 3-point contest. The other guy quoted JVG saying that Novak is the best 3-point shooter in the league. JVG confirmed that. Novak then went on to miss a three and JVG was like "duh!" :grin:.
I haven't watched the games, but in the last 10 games he has 57 points on 32 shots. Maybe Pops has found a role player. Anybody watching care to chime in?
