Salim Stoudamire has escaped pro basketball’s burial grounds — the Atlanta Hawks — and now will play for a winner.
The ex-Wildcat shooting star has signed with the San Antonio Spurs and is expected to replace the three-point shooting threat of Brent Barry and perhaps Robert Horry.
In three years with the dismal Hawks, Stoudamire averaged just 17 minutes per game and was often slowed by a chronic ankle injury. His career average is eight points per game.
Perhaps an organization as effective as the Spurs will change Stoudamire’s career path. Winning is contagious, right? Perhaps Salim’s rep as a clubhouse malcontent will change — it will probably have to change; he will have to adapt — as he becomes a role player on a team with superstars Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.
If he does, Salim could spent another 10 years in the league as a Steve Kerr-type specialist and make millions of dollars.
I think this is an oppurtunity salim has been awaiting. An oppurtunity to show the team and the NBA what he is made of. I remember salim in college and he was the goto guy. We all wanted the ball in his hnads.
I am looking forward to this. I think salim will shine and shine bright! he has a new attitude on life since he left college and unfourtently atlanta did not want to see this change of personality. Woodson is a jerk, and i cant wait for the hawks to play san antonio and salim has 30! Lets go spurs!@!
What you all don’t know, is Salim can’t play PG, is too small to play SG, and is the worst defender in the NBA.
And he has a miserable attitude too.
Enjoy.
Ben, Stop hatin, he can play point he just wasn’t given the oppourtunity to grow into the role. Half the PG’s in the leauge are really scoring combo guards anyway…..like Gilbo and his Gimpy knee. And he’ a decent defender.
I am very happy for this young athelet, after his stay in Atlanta with non coaching Woody, I think the Spurs have a fine player with a winning disposition.
Memo to Greg Hansen: The Hawks made the playoffs last year, and played the eventual champs better than the Pistons or Lakers did. Couple that experience with the league’s 3rd best 2 guard in Joe Johnson (after Kobe and Wade), and the league’s most skilled and athletic young frontcourt, and the Hawks will be a team to be reckoned with in the East for quite some time.
Try to find some up to date adjectives to describe them next time. The terms “NBA burial ground” and “dismal” are the bitter words of a sports writer that can’t keep up with the evolution of a changing league.
All the best to Salim. He is a great shooter who will thrive in San Antonio.
Actually, vegasallen, the Hawks played in a 86.9% full arena last year, according to ESPN, and had hands down the best crowd in the playoffs, which propelled them to sweeping the champs at home. Let’s see, 20 years ago, they went 50-32. 10 years ago, they went 50-32. They had 3 seasons with 56 or more wins in that period, and perennial all stars in Dominique Wilkins and Dikembe Mutombo…how were they not a real factor for the last 20 years? Granted, they had a horrible 8 year playoff drought because of disfunctional management, but that is behind them now. If I’m not mistaken, the Celtics, you know the defending champs, had a similar 8 year drought in this decade, and they’re doing ok.
I suppose I can’t blame you for just spewing arbitrary, out of date facts. You’ve obviously been reading this guy’s work too long.
Wouldn’t surprise me, thresher, but they play in the East. Sub-500 records have littered the Eastern Conference playoffs for the last several years.
As for Salim, I hope he does well. He was a great ‘Cat, and I’ll always have fond memories of him. However, someday he’s going to have to grow up and get a decent attitude. He doesn’t have the size to make up for being a pouter. He could get away with that in college, but those days are over.
Stoudamire is a good player, but he was not appreciated by Woodson. He didn’t make a big stink in Atlanta even though opportunities were there. San Antonio will be a great place for him. Personally, I thought the Lakers should have considered pairing him with Kobe.
I’m a Hawks fan, by the way and we were a quality team until Pete Babcock convinced himself that J.R. Rider was a good replacement for Steve Smith. And we traded Mookie blaylock for the rookie Jason Terry. We’ve been in rehab – but the medicine (Joe Johnson) has worked). Joe believes in our team and so do I.
Congrats, Salim.
— Doug 09/21/2008 07:29 PM #
With that shot — and underrated all-around skills — Salim should have a job for a long time. As Greg says, he may have found a niche in the Spurs.
— Conspiracy Cat 09/22/2008 12:11 AM #
I think this is an oppurtunity salim has been awaiting. An oppurtunity to show the team and the NBA what he is made of. I remember salim in college and he was the goto guy. We all wanted the ball in his hnads.
I am looking forward to this. I think salim will shine and shine bright! he has a new attitude on life since he left college and unfourtently atlanta did not want to see this change of personality. Woodson is a jerk, and i cant wait for the hawks to play san antonio and salim has 30! Lets go spurs!@!
— David 09/22/2008 06:07 AM #
That should read “could spend”
— Blooper 09/22/2008 07:11 AM #
I just wish he wasn’t on the Spurs…maybe their players will teach him how to flop.
— Darren 09/22/2008 07:39 AM #
What you all don’t know, is Salim can’t play PG, is too small to play SG, and is the worst defender in the NBA.
And he has a miserable attitude too.
Enjoy.
— Ben 09/22/2008 10:12 AM #
Ben, Stop hatin, he can play point he just wasn’t given the oppourtunity to grow into the role. Half the PG’s in the leauge are really scoring combo guards anyway…..like Gilbo and his Gimpy knee. And he’ a decent defender.
— Matthew 09/22/2008 12:41 PM #
I am very happy for this young athelet, after his stay in Atlanta with non coaching Woody, I think the Spurs have a fine player with a winning disposition.
— sam 09/22/2008 12:59 PM #
Memo to Greg Hansen: The Hawks made the playoffs last year, and played the eventual champs better than the Pistons or Lakers did. Couple that experience with the league’s 3rd best 2 guard in Joe Johnson (after Kobe and Wade), and the league’s most skilled and athletic young frontcourt, and the Hawks will be a team to be reckoned with in the East for quite some time.
Try to find some up to date adjectives to describe them next time. The terms “NBA burial ground” and “dismal” are the bitter words of a sports writer that can’t keep up with the evolution of a changing league.
All the best to Salim. He is a great shooter who will thrive in San Antonio.
— Masood 09/22/2008 01:54 PM #
9-The Hawks play in a half empty arena and haven’t been a real factor in the NBA for about 20 years.
— vegasallen 09/22/2008 11:01 PM #
I live in San Antonio and there is no report at all of this at least not yet.
— Dan 09/22/2008 11:22 PM #
Actually, vegasallen, the Hawks played in a 86.9% full arena last year, according to ESPN, and had hands down the best crowd in the playoffs, which propelled them to sweeping the champs at home. Let’s see, 20 years ago, they went 50-32. 10 years ago, they went 50-32. They had 3 seasons with 56 or more wins in that period, and perennial all stars in Dominique Wilkins and Dikembe Mutombo…how were they not a real factor for the last 20 years? Granted, they had a horrible 8 year playoff drought because of disfunctional management, but that is behind them now. If I’m not mistaken, the Celtics, you know the defending champs, had a similar 8 year drought in this decade, and they’re doing ok.
I suppose I can’t blame you for just spewing arbitrary, out of date facts. You’ve obviously been reading this guy’s work too long.
— Masood 09/23/2008 03:57 AM #
Hawks made the playoffs, but didn’t they have a sub-500 record entering the playoffs?
— thresher 09/23/2008 05:59 PM #
Wouldn’t surprise me, thresher, but they play in the East. Sub-500 records have littered the Eastern Conference playoffs for the last several years.
As for Salim, I hope he does well. He was a great ‘Cat, and I’ll always have fond memories of him. However, someday he’s going to have to grow up and get a decent attitude. He doesn’t have the size to make up for being a pouter. He could get away with that in college, but those days are over.
— Kim 09/24/2008 03:48 AM #
Stoudamire is a good player, but he was not appreciated by Woodson. He didn’t make a big stink in Atlanta even though opportunities were there. San Antonio will be a great place for him. Personally, I thought the Lakers should have considered pairing him with Kobe. I’m a Hawks fan, by the way and we were a quality team until Pete Babcock convinced himself that J.R. Rider was a good replacement for Steve Smith. And we traded Mookie blaylock for the rookie Jason Terry. We’ve been in rehab – but the medicine (Joe Johnson) has worked). Joe believes in our team and so do I.
— anthony 09/24/2008 02:14 PM #