When Devonte’ Graham joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2023, the club had 27 games remaining. Graham participated in twenty of them. His 31 points the day after his arrival set a franchise record for most in a Spurs debut. He also had three rebounds and three assists in the 138-131 double overtime loss against the Detroit Pistons. Graham became a regular member of the rotation after averaging 13 points per game and starting eight in the final two months of the season.
Going into an off-season in which the Spurs did not restructure the squad after drafting Victor Wembanyama, it was natural to expect Graham to be one of the team’s regulars again.
But 2023-24 proved to be a quite different tale. After playing in 20 of the aforementioned 27 games, the sixth-year veteran appeared in only 23 of the team’s 82 games last season.
“I’m sure he didn’t like it, but he was always there for his team,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich stated near the end of the season.
Graham’s final season in San Antonio came after signing a one-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Devonte’ Graham is a “player”
Popovich referred to Graham as a “player” immediately following the Silver and Black’s tremendous victory over the then-defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the second-to-last game of the regular season for both.
“Down the stretch, he got to play a little bit more, and he’s shown that he’s still a player,” said the NBA’s winningest coach following Graham’s game-winning shot in the 121-120 final.
In that same press conference, Popovich mentioned Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry in response to a question regarding Graham’s big moment that night, implying that, like them, the 29-year-old guard would come up big despite limited minutes.
“He was the same cloth, the same species,” the Hall of Fame coach added. “He busted his a** all year long and was always ready.”
Graham, who averaged 18.2 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2019-20, found it difficult to sit back and observe.
“My teammates are keeping me confident. “Just putting in the work, staying ready, and being a professional,” the former Kansas Jayhawk admitted.
Graham praises those who are even closer to him with his ability to persevere.
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