The San Antonio Spurs will have two players suiting up for the 2012 NBA Rising Stars Challenge at the Orlando All-Star event. Tiago Splitter and Kawhi Leonard got the nod with the rookie joining nine other first-year players and Splitter joining fellow second-year players like Blake Griffin and John Wall.

This year's Rising Stars event will follow a different format than the previous Rookie vs. Sophomore game. To make the event more fan friendly, TNT personalities Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley will act as "general managers" and "draft" sides in playground fashion.

TNT's Kenny Smith will serve as the honorary Commissioner and Ernie Johnson will host the live Rising Stars Challenge Draft on Thursday, Feb. 16, on NBA TV at 7 p.m. ET. The game itself will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.

For more on the stats that earned Irving and Thompson their first trip to an NBA All-Star event, see the press release on the Spurs web site. The full Rising Stars roster is available after the jump.

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SAN ANTONIO (February 7, 2012) – The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have placed forward Malcolm Thomas on waivers.

Thomas saw action in three games for the Spurs this season, totaling 3 rebounds, 1 point and 1 assist in 15 minutes.

The Spurs roster now stands at 13.

Power forward Kenyon Martin is returning to the NBA and the San Antonio Spurs are on the small list of teams in line to land him. League sources told Yahoo! Sports that Martin is being courted by the Spurs along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

Martin is an unrestricted free agent and now has clearance to re-join the NBA after signing in China this season along with fellow former Denver Nuggets players J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler and Aaron Brooks of the Phoenix Suns. Those guys are still playing in China, however, whereas Martin left the country and received a FIBA ruling allowing him back in the NBA.

According to a report from Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, Martin has already met with the Clippers and is meeting with the Hawks on Thursday. The timeline for a decision is expected to be fast with Martin agreeing to terms this weekend and taking a physical on Monday.

Martin is 34-years-old and averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds with the Nuggets lat season. His addition to the Spurs would add veteran front court depth from a proven defender.

SAN ANTONIO (January 23, 2012) – The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they will retire Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 jersey on Wednesday, March 21 when the Spurs host the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bowen’s No. 12 jersey will join James Silas’ No. 13, George Gervin’s No. 44, Johnny Moore’s No. 00, David Robinson’s No. 50, Sean Elliott’s No. 32 and Avery Johnson’s No. 6 in the rafters in the AT&T Center.

"Bruce Bowen was the premier perimeter defender in the NBA for close to a decade," said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. "His success is proof that hard work and determination do, in fact, pay off. Statistics are meaningless when talking about his importance to this franchise. The simple fact is the Spurs don't win NBA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007 without Bruce Bowen."

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Manu Ginobili answered questions (in Spanish) via Twitcam last night and discussed his injury, among other subjects. The video isn't available to post but there's an article on the Argentine Basketball Confederation site that compiled what was said. After the jump are the most important and Spurs-related parts, translated.
Hat Tip to JanieAnnie, who provided the link.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Malcolm Thomas from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Per club policy details of the contract were not released. In addition, the Spurs placed forward Ike Diogu on waivers.

Thomas, 6-9, 225 lbs., saw action in six games with the D-Fenders, averaging 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.67 blocks, 1.50 steals and 1.3 assists in 31.5 minutes while shooting .673 (35-52) from the field. Thomas posted a season-high 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds at Erie on Dec. 29.

Thomas, a teammate of Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard at San Diego State, helped lead the Aztecs to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.02 blocks in 30.4 minutes.
An All-Mountain West Conference Second Team selection in each of his two seasons at San Diego State as well as an All-Defensive Team selection as a senior, Thomas concluded his career with the Aztecs as the second leading shot blocker in school history (127).

Diogu was signed by the Spurs on Jan. 3. He appeared in two games, totaling 2 points and a rebound in 14 minutes.

Thomas will wear No. 23 for the Spurs and will be available tonight when the Silver and Black host the Houston Rockets at the AT&T Center at 7:30 p.m.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Ike Diogu. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.

Diogu, 6-9, 250 pounds, spent last season playing for the L.A. Clippers, He appeared in 36 games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.1 minutes while shooting .561 (83-148) from the field.

A five-year NBA veteran, Diogu was originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the ninth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He has also seen action with the Indiana Pacers (2006-08), Portland Trail Blazers (2008-09) and Sacramento Kings (2008-09). For his career Diogu has appeared in 223 games, averaging 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes.

Diogu will wear No. 1 for the Spurs

According to Sam Amick, writer on SI.com, forward Ike Diogu has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

Ikechukwa Somotochukwa Diogu (Ike)

Position: Forward ▪ Height: 6-8 ▪ Weight: 250 lbs.
Born: September 11, 1983 (Age 28) in Buffalo, New York
High School: Garland in Garland, Texas
College: Arizona State University
Draft: Golden State Warriors, 1st round (9th pick, 9th overall), 2005 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: November 23, 2005

Further information as it arises.