It’s been less than two days since the 2023 NBA draft passed, but a Spurs rookie already seems well-acquainted with his team’s in-state rival.
San Antonio’s Sidy Cissoko sat down with Sean Elliott at the Arneson River Theatre to introduce himself to Spurs fans Saturday morning, speaking briefly about his goals and his experiences in the state of Texas. When asked how it felt to end up in San Antonio, Cissoko wasted no time bringing up the Dallas Mavericks:
“I was in Dallas, but Dallas — I don’t like the Mavericks,” Cissoko said. “Now I’m here with you guys, so let’s enjoy the season.”
Basketball fans in Texas might be pretty familiar with the history between the Dallas and San Antonio franchises. The Mavericks and Spurs have faced off 195 times in the regular season, with San Antonio owning a 115-80 edge in the series.
Dallas has held the advantage in recent meetings between the two squads, defeating San Antonio in eight of their last 10 showdowns.
Cissoko was selected by the Spurs in the second round of Thursday’s draft, joining No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. The Mavericks also made a bevy of moves throughout the event, taking center Dereck Lively II and wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Will this be the newest addition to the storied Texan rivalry?
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