Spurs’ Doug McDermott sounds off on ‘stay ready’ mentality amid increasing playing time

When Doug McDermott hit five of six three-pointers to help the San Antonio Spurs to their first win of 2024 and only their sixth of the season, it was impressive enough. More impressively, though, in that January 10th victory at Detroit, is that the 10-year veteran hadn’t played a minute in the team’s previous two games.

“I just try and stick with a routine every day regardless. If I’m not playing, I’ll try to get a little extra conditioning after the game. That’s just something you’ve got to do as a pro because you never know what can happen,” McDermott revealed.

The former Creighton University star followed up his effort in Detroit by hitting four treys in the second quarter of the Spurs next game.

“It felt good. Once that first one goes in, you feel like you’re not going to miss and that’s kind of how it felt tonight. They just did a really good job of finding me and I wish I could’ve been a part of more of the third and fourth quarter but it’s all good,” McDermott told ClutchPoints following a 135-99 triumph vs. the Charlotte Hornets on January 12.

That same night, McDermott also told ClutchPoints he’d be fine after aggravating a right foot injury that prevented him from playing in the second half.

“I just kind of rolled my ankle. I’ve had a little bit of ankle history at this point with this one. I just kind of landed on his foot, aggravated it a little but not crazy. It’s just one of those deals where we’ll see how it feels day to day. Just gotta stick with the treatments,” the former Chicago Bull said that night.

He missed the contest against that very team the next night on the second end of a back-to-back for precautionary reasons.

Staying in the flow

McDermott played 15 minutes in the Spurs’ most recent game – a 109-99 loss at the Atlanta Hawks. He hit two of the five shots he took – all from beyond the arc, including one from the top of the key early in the fourth quarter that ignited a furious San Antonio rally.

“You definitely feel a little better. It’s always good making a shot. You kind of have a little bit more pep in our step. Obviously, it’s nice to make them, especially when you’re coming off the bench. Sometimes it just takes a little time to get loose but you’ve got to be loose regardless.”

McDermott’s playing time has declined every season he’s joined the franchise, from 24 minutes per game in 2021-’22 to 20.5 and now 15.8 this season. The realities of a team that’s adjusting to franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama while struggling through one of the worst seasons in the NBA factor in.

“We’ve had a pretty tough schedule to start the year. As everyone knows, we took quite a few losses,” the 32-year-old small forward admitted.

Though his minutes on the court may have changed, one thing that won’t is McDermott’s mindset.

“There’s 82 games and anything can happen and they’re going to need you at some point so you’ve just got to try and stay with that mindset every day.”