Austin Spurs guard Stanley Umude always dreamt of being an NBA player, but the San Antonioan couldn’t have imagined the past couple of days in his wildest dreams.
Umude, who appeared in the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, rejoined his G-League club for an early morning bout with the Texas Legends. Umude led the Austin Spurs past the Legends 104-95 Wednesday afternoon at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
“If somebody told me in middle school, elementary school, that I was going to be playing in front of my hometown, I probably would have believed them then,” Umude said. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. A lot of people don’t get this opportunity, so the emotions are all over the place.”
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Umude was named Player of the Game, leading the team in points with 25 in the dominant performance for Austin. Umude, though, has not been with the team during the G-League Spurs’ restful layaway over the weekend.
Umude rejoined the G-League club for its annual game in San Antonio, meeting them when they traveled down for the early morning game.
Tied up at 66 near the end of the third quarter, Austin began to pull away, outscoring Texas 24-4 to open up the fourth. Umude was a main contributor to the strong run at the end of the game, scoring 15 points in the game’s final two quarters.
“The two-way situation, it could come at any time,” Umude said. “I got the call, I think the night after our last game in Austin. They told me I’m gonna be in San Antonio for the week and possibly have a chance to dress.”
San Antonio had a nightmarish travel day on its way back to Texas after a tough loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Spurs didn’t leave North Carolina until Sunday morning due to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport shutting down after experiencing heavy winter weather.
The Spurs’ home game on Sunday against the Magic was delayed twice, the first time as a precaution, the second due to the team having to switch planes in Atlanta after an apparent malfunction.
Finally, San Antonio was able to make it for its twice-delayed Sunday game, and with the natural strain that comes with a bad travel day, the Spurs allowed Umude to dress for Sunday’s game.
“I think (Stephon Castle), last second, didn’t play. So I got the opportunity,” Umude said. “Checking in for the first time in my hometown team, it was a big deal.”
Although it was more of a quick cup of coffee, with just two minutes of game time in the victory against Orlando, Umude became the fifth player in franchise history to appear in a game for San Antonio that came from a local high school.
“It’s not easy, what these two-way guys have to do and bouncing back and forth,” head coach Jacob Chance said. “(A) lot of room to grow, as I’m sure he would admit, but he’s trending in the right direction.”
Austin will face the Houston Rockets’ G-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Saturday at 8 p.m. at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas.