After spending the last couple seasons as the veteran presence on the Indiana Pacers, David West is a relatively young player on a San Antonio Spurs roster that has Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
And, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, West said he’s taking advantage of having the chance to watch a Hall of Famer at work.
“I find myself staring at Tim. I have just been trying to find little corners to watch him – and I just stare at him.”
The 35-year-old also said he “needed” the chance to be a student again, admitting that serving as Indiana’s teacher and constantly providing answers eventually became “a bit much.” A 12-year veteran, West mentioned he’s already been asking Duncan and Ginobili questions.
He turned down a $12 million contract and inked a veteran’s minimum deal worth approximately $1.5 million because his eyes are set on a championship.
Considering the Spurs added LaMarcus Aldridge, re-signed Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and managed to keep three-point marksman Danny Green on a ridiculously team-friendly deal, West joined a top contender built to win in 2015-16.
However, head coach Gregg Popovich—another Hall of Fame-bound mind for West to pick—must fit the puzzle pieces together. West will be a part of the second unit, but he and Boris Diaw aren’t an optimal combination in the frontcourt because neither is a legitimate center.
Regardless, West is a savvy veteran who appears to have a desire to continue learning, and there’s no better place for someone with that mindset than on a team with Duncan, Ginobili and Popovich. They probably won’t mind if they catch West staring.