In the summer of 2018, because of the related transactions about Leonard , Pearl was also packaged by Raptors with DeRozan and sent to Spurs . However, when the team still had Aldridge as the main inside, Pearl could only go from the substitute, and its overall performance was even worse than the last season of the Raptors before. After all, it can only be regarded as an unnecessary deal. Everyone did not have much expectations for whether he could play a world in the Spurs. However, Popovich 's exploration of these seemingly inconspicuous role players is far beyond the outside world's imagination. Last season, Ade had been watching the wall for a long time due to injury, and even after being directly bought out by Spurs , Pelter also ushered in his own display time.
Last season, he was basically the starting center of the Spurs. With his playing time soaring to 26.7 minutes, he averaged 8.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. These data set the highest value of his career at that time. Because the Spurs were weak in the penalty area, Popovich simply gave this blue-collar insider a lot of opportunities. After all, his physical condition (2.13 meters tall, with a wingspan of 2 meters) is indeed the most outstanding big player in the Spurs. Thinking about even the 1.98-meter-long , Kelden, Johnson, , was mentioned to the No. 4 position by him, everyone knows how unbearable the Spurs' penalty area is.
And when the Spurs officially started the reconstruction button this season, Peartel has become the "veteran" in this Spurs team. You should know that he is only 26 years old this year, but in this young team, he has indeed become an indispensable center of the penalty area. While continuing to firmly play in the starting center position of the Spurs, he has improved his data to a career-high 12.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 blocks this season. In the opening match with the Magic this year, Peartel scored a quasi-triple double-double of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. In the last five games, Peartel's average assists can also reach a good 4.2 times, proving that the passing ability he has developed is not just a lucky chance.
From being just an optional pure blue-collar worker in the Raptors to being reborn in the Spurs and becoming another all-around big man with passing ability in the entire league. I really have to thank Popovich for his training and transformation of himself. In the Spurs, a team that is good at exploring underdog, it actually includes the current three core Dezhangtai Murray , Derek White, and Kelden Johnson are all players at the end of the first round, but the old man's magic has forcibly made them the core of the team building today. It is a blessing in life to be able to meet Popovich, the legendary coach!
