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Antonio Daniels is proof that good things come to those who wait.
The 26-year-old former first-round pick (fourth overall) of the
then-Vancouver Grizzlies, begins his first season as the starting point
guard in San Antonio after popular veteran Avery Johnson left for Denver via
free agency.
At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Daniels is bigger, stronger and more athletic than
Johnson, but lacks the penetrating ability. Of course, who needs to penetrate
when Tim Duncan and David Robinson are already clogging the lane and your team has such proficiency from downtown?
Daniels' biggest problem may be keeping all the hot hands behind the arc
happy. The Spurs had five players shoot over 40 percent from 3-point range last
season, and newly acquired Steve Smith has a healthy 34.6 3-point field-goal percentage over his career.
The things A.D. learned from watching, talking with and practicing against Johnson the past three years will help, and he'll also benefit from his current star-studded supporting cast.
Welcome to Year One A.D. For Daniels -- and the Spurs -- it's been worth the
wait.
-- Jon Cooper, Special to CNNSI.com
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Antonio Daniels gets his shot at a starting spot this season. Allsport
