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Tom Orsborn

@tomorsborn

In my 40th year as a reporter with the San Antonio Express-News and my 11th consecutive season as one of the E-N’s Spurs beat writers. Also do occasional stories on food insecurity issues. Proud San Antonio College alumnus. πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆally

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19.10.2024
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Latest posts by Tom Orsborn @tomorsborn

Spurs say Plumlee is available.

11.03.2026 00:14 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

More from Mitch on Plumlee: β€œHe was a rookie for KG and Paul Pierce in Brooklyn, so there's quite a bit of experience and stories. … (He’s) played with high-level players and played a few different types of roles and has seen different levels of success throughout this league on different teams.”

10.03.2026 22:42 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Mitch Johnson said he hopes Plumlee will be cleared to play after he goes through warmups.

10.03.2026 22:31 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
What Spurs' Mason Plumlee said about finally being ready to play The veteran big man said he expects to be upgraded to available for Tuesday night's game against Boston.

Mason Plumlee said he expects the Spurs to upgrade him to available for tonight’s game against Boston.

"My body feels great," he said after shootaround Tuesday morning. "(The Spurs) have had a good plan to get me back to playing shape and I'm ready to go."

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

10.03.2026 18:06 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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What Kornet had to say about the NBA cancelling the Hawks' 'Magic City Night' The league scrapped the Hawks' plans to honor the Atlanta strip club after Kornet spoke out against it in his blog.

The Spurs' Luke Kornet prevailed in his crusade against the Hawks' so-called "Magic City Night."

But instead of taking a victory lap, he offered a subdued reaction a day after the NBA said it was canceling the Hawks' promotion of the Atlanta strip club.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

10.03.2026 17:41 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Mason Plumlee said he will be available for tonight's game vs. Boston.

"My body feels great," he said. "(The Spurs) had a good plan to get me back to playing shape, and I'm ready to go."

Plumlee hasn't played since he underwent groin surgery on Dec. 31 while with Charlotte.

10.03.2026 16:32 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Jeff’s lead anecdote reminds me of covering the Cowboys back in the Triplet days: They never worried about their opponent’s defensive game plan, knowing the lead draw featuring Emmitt Smith was unstoppable. Castle offered similar vibes after the demolition of the Rockets.

10.03.2026 13:58 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Why Spurs' Harrison Ingram is thriving in the G League The 2024 second-round pick is embracing his role as a defensive-minded, lunch pail swingman, earning praise from coach Mitch Johnson.

Harrison Ingram leads the G League in rebounding after Mitch Johnson defined a lunchpail, gritty role for him.

β€œHe’s really accepted and embraced” it, the #Spurs coach said.

On how the two-way guard/forward is thriving in Austin:

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

08.03.2026 19:13 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Wembanyama pushed to the limit in Spurs' dramatic comeback win over Clippers The All-Star center said he had "zero left" after the Spurs rallied from 25 down to defeat Los Angeles after beating the gritty Pistons the night before.

The back-to-back wins over the Pistons and Clippers left Wemby exhausted but also exhilarated.

β€œI’ve got zero left,” he said.

On what the Spurs superstar called β€œthe best 30 hours of his life”:

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

07.03.2026 18:14 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
3 takeaways as Victor Wembanyama scores 27 points in a huge come-from-behind win The Spurs rallied from a 25-point deficit for a 116-112 win in one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.

The (Wemby is completely spent) triple take: Spurs 116, Clippers 112

1, De’Aaron Fox was the maestro in the fourth quarter.

2, Carter Bryant was also huge in the final frame.

3, Champagnie came oh so close to not playing.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

07.03.2026 07:05 πŸ‘ 28 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Lopez lighting up the Spurs and his former college teammate Mitch Johnson with 17 points on 7 of 11, including 3 of 6 from deep. His season high is 31.

07.03.2026 03:44 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Spurs have upgraded Champagnie (knee) to available

07.03.2026 01:56 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Champagnie (sore right knee) is β€œbanged up” and will be a game-time decision, Mitch Johnson said.

07.03.2026 00:57 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Spurs injury report for tonight vs. LAC: Barnes remains out, Champagnie questionable.

06.03.2026 19:13 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Spurs sr. VP/fan experience Casey Heverling’s statement about last night’s shooting:

β€œOur prayers are with the victim and his family. Providing a safe environment for our fans is a core area of focus for all of us at Frost Bank Center…”

She also thanked the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

06.03.2026 18:47 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Spurs dominate conference leaders in season series With Thursday night's win over Detroit, the Spurs finished a combined 6-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Pistons.

It matters a lot," Wemby said of the #Spurs finishing the season a combined 6-1 against the Thunder and Detroit.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 18:24 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Why the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama played 39 minutes Thursday night It was the heaviest workload for the 22-year-old Frenchman since he logged a season-high 40 in late October.

Wemby came into Thursday's game averaging 29 minutes over his last 10 games and 27.2 over his last 35, a stretch that began after he missed 12 games with a calf injury.

But there he was Thursday, logging nearly 40 while dominating Detroit.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 17:10 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
How the Spurs' non-stop hustle gave them an edge against physical Detroit Carter Bryant and Keldon Johnson diving for loose balls underscored the team's fierce determination to beat the East-leading Pistons.

J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters before Thursday night's game it's incorrect to say the Spurs aren't a physical team.

In beating East-leading Detroit for the 2nd time in 11 days, the Spurs proved him right.

β€œWe didn't blink,” Mitch Johnson said.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 13:12 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Man shot twice in Frost Bank Center parking lot after Spurs game Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said the 48-year-old victim underwent surgery at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

From late last night:

A 48-year-old man was shot at least twice in a parking lot at the Frost Bank Center after the Spurs game against Detroit on Thursday night, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 12:02 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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French fans, patriotic singing warmed the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama's heart About 30 fans from France attended the Spurs' 121-106 win over the Pistons on Thursday night and serenaded the center with "La Marseillaise".

Wemby experienced a surge of patriotism when he heard the French national anthem being sung in the stands at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday night.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Man shot twice in Frost Bank Center parking lot after Spurs game Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said the 48-year-old victim underwent surgery at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

A 48-year-old male was shot at least twice in a parking lot at the Frost Bank Center after the Spurs game against Detroit on Thursday night, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

06.03.2026 06:48 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Mitch Johnson said Barnes remains day-to-day.

β€œWe have to keep these guys from (hurting) themselves, and Harrison would be out there tonight if we didn’t have a say so and (we) make sure we have the big picture in mind,” the coach said.

05.03.2026 23:50 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Mitch Johnson on the hard-nosed Pistons: β€œThey are as physical as anybody in the league. They are going to challenge your physicality in more ways than any other team that I think we've played, and they're going to do it every possession. … They are going to test our will.”

05.03.2026 23:33 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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What player did Dylan Harper admire most before he joined the Spurs? The No. 2 overall pick always tuned in to see another big guard with an all-around game.

Asked about Dylan Harper’s admiration for Cade Cunningham, Mitch Johnson was quick to respond.

"Dylan’s got good taste," the Spurs coach said.

On the similarities between Harper and Cunningham and how they got to rub elbows at All-Star weekend.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

05.03.2026 21:26 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Harrison Barnes remains out, per Spurs injury report.

05.03.2026 00:47 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Spurs coach praises Kornet for "courageously" taking on Hawks strip club night The center asked Atlanta in his blog to cancel its promotion of "Magic City" because of its 'potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.'

Mitch Johnson praised Luke Kornet for showing "courage" in speaking out against the Atlanta Hawks promoting an Atlanta strip club.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

04.03.2026 15:50 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Spurs sweep NBA's monthly West awards after going 11-0 in February The team reaped the benefits following a month that ranked as one of the greatest in franchise history.

After going 11-0 in February, the Spurs clean up in the West, collecting player of month and defensive player of month (Wemby), rookie of month (Harper) and coach of month (Mitch).

It marks just the 3rd time a team has swept those honors since 1982-83.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

03.03.2026 21:40 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

To tie a bow on the Spurs' undefeated 11-0 February, the NBA has named Wemby its West player of the month after he averaged 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.

Detroit's Cade Cunningham earned East honors after averaging 25.4/6.5/9.9 in leading Pistons to a 9-2 mark.

03.03.2026 21:01 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How the NBA is honoring Mitch Johnson for his work as coach of the Spurs The 39-year-old coach's latest accolade comes after he led the club to an undefeated February.

#Spurs reap the benefits from their undefeated February, including Mitch Johnson earning West coaching honors.

After losing to the Spurs, J.B. Bickerstaff said this of Mitch: "He's an extremely talented coach, great dude, great communicator, great leader.”

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

03.03.2026 20:57 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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NBA honors Spurs rookie Dylan Harper for his February play Harper came on strong last month, helping the Spurs to an 11-0 record after he survived a January slump.

NBA honors Dylan Harper after he came on strong in February following a January slump.

www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

03.03.2026 20:29 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0