Spurs sign Rich melzer

[tuanskoko]

[qoute]Rich Melzer, one of the key players for the New Zealand Breakers, has secured a two-year NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs.

The 26-year-old Melzer got his break after impressing in the Orlando Magic summer league and 10 days in camp with the Spurs last month.

Despite his good fortune, Melzer admitted to having mixed emotions because his heart was set on returning to New Zealand.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about being signed," he said.


"But at the same time I'm also a little saddened because I've been waiting to go back to the Breakers ever since I left after the last season.

"I attribute a lot of this success to Andrej, John and the team because I really believe I wasn't a professional ball player until my experiences in New Zealand.

"I'm really going to miss the team, but I'll try and do everyone proud and represent New Zealand and Australian basketball 100 percent," he said.

Melzer's good fortune has upset the planning for the Breakers.

Coach Andrej Lemanis said: "It's a great opportunity for Rich and we wish him every success.

"It's a positive reflection on our recruitment policy to see him make the NBA and it shows players can develop here as part of our programme and that we are a viable pathway to the big time.

"John Dorge worked extensively with the big men last season and Rich himself acknowledges that he's a better player because of that input."

Now that recruitment policy will be put to the test again as the Breakers look for a replacement.

"Rich not only knew our systems and culture, he is a talented player with unique skills and we need to determine the balance of our roster and sign a quality import that fits in with the make-up of the team," Lemanis said.

Melzer made his mark in the latter half of the season last year when the Breakers finished strongly.

He led the team is scoring, steals and blocked shots. He spent time with the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls as well as the Magic and Spurs before securing his contract.

Earlier in his career he led the Sioux Skyforce to the CBA Championship in 2005 and was the MVP in the finals when helping San Carlos to win the Dominican Republic League.

At school he finished as second on the all-time scoring list for Wisconsin-River Falls with 2363 points. He was the school's third-best rebounder with 821 boards and the all-time shot blocker with 186 rejections.[/qoute]

http://www.sportal.co.nz/basketball.asp?i=news&id=85429

how bad can this offseason be for the spurs, with no fuckn starting center, now signin scrubs to fill voids. damn it we should just tank the season.

[Null17]

Have no idea who he is but I hope he's useful. I'm still hopeful about Javtokas and Scola

[nzspurs]

Its sad to see him leave the breakers, i guess, but well done to the guy for making it in the big time

[Dean]

Never heard of him, but The X will love this

[frenchy]

Not sure He 'll make the final roster

[tuanskoko]

alot of posters on ST + SR are not happy atm, we dont know if his the long 3 we are lookin for, but is signin him, butler or elson better than signin scola + javtokas, which is really pissin me off atm.

[funk99]

never heard of him but hope he will be a good player at least decent

[rabbitx]

how bad can this offseason be for the spurs, with no fuckn starting center, now signin scrubs to fill voids. damn it we should just tank the season.

Im gonna pretend u didnt say that, how can you tank a season when you have tim duncan, tony parker, manu ginobili, and mike finley on one team

they have horry, he can play pf, and duncan can play c

[The X]

Never heard of him, but The X will love this

he'll be in a suit waving a white towel next to Sean Marks or maybe it means that Marks is heading to Europe

[Jing]

oh man... mark will be having an erection hearing this

[H Rock]

Someday the Spurs will have an all-international roster. They always seem to steal good international players under everybody's noses.

[The X]

Someday the Spurs will have an all-international roster. They always seem to steal good international players under everybody's noses.

I wouldn't call this one a steal like Parker or Manu it's more like no one else was interested

[Rowan Boatman]

Stoked for Rich, he was a big part of the Breakers....pretty much carried the team in numourus games.
He's a good shooter and a hell of a nice guy.

Now regarding Marks, im hoping he somehow can stay in the nba...but will prolly be better off in Europe

Interesting to see he is at the basketball without borders camp though
http://www.nba.com/bwb/americas2006_report.html


what a legend!!

[The X]

it would've been nice to see Marks in the WC team, but I'm happy he's doing something else useful....

[Silas]

I think they need to start playing Marks. He's one of the few guys who sit on the bench all season and whenver they do get playing time actually look good. He's usually always played well when he gets minutes, and now that they need big men they should put him as their backup PF or something.

[The X]

good news, it appears Sean Marks is in talks & might sign with the Phoenix Suns

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=69986

[Rowan Boatman]

*squeals*
Marks and my favourite Suns, thats stuff that dreams are made of.

Just give him some minutes dammit