Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - With Elliott on sidelines, Spurs begin defense of first NBA title

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Saturday, October 2, 1999

With Elliott on sidelines, Spurs begin defense of first NBA title

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs start training camp this weekend, beginning the chase for another NBA title while Sean Elliott watches from the sidelines.
   As the Larry O'Brien trophy delighted fans in a tour of San Antonio, a summer of celebration was offset by the startling news of Elliott's kidney transplant.
   The 10-year veteran received a kidney from his brother Noel on Aug. 16. Elliott had a condition that prevents the kidneys from properly filtering waste from the blood. Without the transplant, he soon would have needed dialysis.
   The 31-year-old forward, who averaged 12 points per game through the title run despite his illness, wants to play again. Such a comeback would be unprecedented in professional sports. He has gradually increased his activity and earlier this week shot baskets with teammates.
   He plans to watch training camp workouts. If he does indeed return, it would be late in the season, at the earliest. In the meantime, he intends to travel with the team and work as as a Spurs broadcaster.
   Players reported to camp late Friday, with twice daily workouts starting today. On Oct. 14-16, the Spurs will take part in the six-team McDonald's Championship in Milan, Italy.
   San Antonio won its first championship in its 26-year history, going 15-2 in the players and drawing on the strength of 7-footers Tim Duncan and David Robinson to defeat New York in the NBA Finals.
   Much of the camp will revolve around replacing Elliott and acclimating the new players. In the offseason, the Spurs re-signed free agent forward Malik Rose and guard Jaren Jackson. Will Perdue, a 7-0 backup center, left for Chicago.
   The Spurs signed free agents Samaki Walker and Felton Spencer. Terry Porter, a guard, also was added to the roster. The Spurs agreed to terms this week with forward Chucky Brown.
   Duncan, the MVP of the NBA Finals after averaging 27.4 points and 14 rebounds in the series, has one year remaining on his three-year, $10 million rookie deal with the Spurs.
   So far Duncan hasn't said if he will remain in San Antonio after his contract expires. His decision will be tied to whether the team gets a new arena, ensuring a long-term commitment to San Antonio. The Spurs' home in the Alamodome is designed for football.
   Voters go the polls Nov. 2 - the day the Spurs start the regular season - to decide whether to raise hotel and car rental taxes to fund an arena on county property about two miles from downtown.
   A PISTONS' DELE MAY RETIRE: Detroit center Bison Dele's announcement that he might retire came as no surprise, but his talent will be missed, coach Alvin Gentry said Friday.
   "We'd love to have Bison on our team. ... I think talent rules in this league," Gentry said.
   Dele, 30, told the Pistons Wednesday of a possible desire to retire. In the following 48 hours, Pistons' executive vice presidents Rick Sund and Joe Dumars and Gentry talked with Dele.
   Dele was in Beirut and didn't plan to return to the United States for a couple of weeks, missing the start of training camp.
   Gentry said Terry Mills, who returned to Detroit after two years on the bench of the Miami Heat, could replace Dele in the starting lineup.
   "We're not prepared to lose a good player, but we're prepared to move ahead," he said
   .

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