Spurs waste no time adding muscle to rookie Luka Samanic

San Antonio Spurs Luka Samanic (19) goes to the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers Dean Wade, right, defends in the first half of a NBA Summer League game Monday, July 1, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) less San Antonio Spurs Luka Samanic (19) goes to the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers Dean Wade, right, defends in the first half of a NBA Summer League game Monday, July 1, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick ... more Photo: Rick Bowmer, Associated Press Photo: Rick Bowmer, Associated Press Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Spurs waste no time adding muscle to rookie Luka Samanic 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO - To the naked eye, the Luka Samanic who will take the court for the preseason opener Saturday doesn't look much different than the Luka Samanic the Spurs drafted 19th overall in June.

But the truth is, there is a difference - about 10 pounds worth.

"Maybe I was 226 when I came (to San Antonio)," he said. "Now I'm 235."

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The Spurs wasted no time taking steps to add some muscle to the 19-year-old's lanky 6-foot-11 frame.

"Every day," Samanic said when asked how often he lifts weights.

Samanic pumped iron while playing in Europe, but his routine wasn't anywhere near as intense as what he does now with the Spurs.

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"There are no breaks," he said. "And everything goes from the core."

Samanic has also benefited from some other changes.

"We have a dietician I had conversations with," he said. "They took blood."

After about a month of informal workouts with his new teammates, Samanic is trying to hold his own in training camp, which hasn't been easy.

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"It's more everything – more competitive, more physical, tougher," he said.

Asked what he's learned so far, Samanic said, "How important it is to be a good teammate here. You (also) have to keep moving. In the offense, you can't stay in one place for too long. And everything starts from defense."

Fortunately for Samanic, he's found a mentor in assistant coach Tim Duncan.

"When I heard the news he would be a coach, I was really happy and couldn't wait to start," he said. "I just pick up whatever he says."