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When I joined Pounding The Rock, I pitched a project that would cover every player who ever wore a Spurs jersey. Not equally, by any means, but each jersey would be identified numerically by the players who wore it.
There is a significance to the numbers of jerseys as it pertains to the five NBA Championships that have been won by the San Antonio Spurs.
There is only one jersey number associated with all five San Antonio Spurs NBA Championships- #21. Tim Duncan. He is coincidentally also the only player to be involved in all five titles.
There are five numbers associated with four Spurs titles. #9 (Tony Parker) and #20 Manu Ginobili, as well as #2 (Jaren Jackson-1999, Nazr Mohammed- 2005, Melvin Ely- 2007, and Kawhi Leonard- 2014), #4 (Steve Kerr- 1999, Sean Marks- 2005, Michael Finley- 2007, and Danny Green- 2014), and #11 (Brandon Williams- 1999, Mike Wilks- 2005, Jacque Vaughn- 2007, Jeff Ayers- 2014).
The next set of jersey numbers are those associated with three of the Spurs NBA titles.
Those numbers are 3, 5, 8, 12, 17, and 33. Today we look a final look at the longest current tenured member of the San Antonio Spurs and the man who has worn #8 the longest.
#8
Patty Mills
I could go on and on about Patty Mills, his athleticism, his humanitarianism, his heroics on and off the court. But instead, check out Mills, year by year.
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Let’s get one thing straight.
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There’s just one mate.
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Brought by fate.
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To share his infectious trait
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And though he joined late.
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No one can hate.
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He was well worth the wait.
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The one true great #8.
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My most memorable story is how Pop made an effort to make mention of Eddie Mabo Day just two days before the 2014 Finals, one of the best runs in Spurs history. Mills and the Spurs are a great match, both on and off the court.
He was the first member of the Spurs to sign my commemorative team keepsake after the 2014 Finals, and he was the nicest guy to meet in person.
I hope Patty retires with the Spurs organization, and I hope they retire his number, #8. The only number he has ever worn.
Next up: #12 belongs to one man, sort of . . .
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