SAN ANTONIO -- Fabricio Oberto remembers being in Spain, watching childhood buddy Manu Ginobili win his first NBA championship. Oberto wasn't jealous -- too good a guy, too solid a friendship -- but he did covet.
Who wouldn't?
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| Though he was the man in Argentina, Fabricio Oberto has no issue being a role player in San Antonio. (AP) |
He simply wanted an opportunity to join the world's top league, and San Antonio had noticed him years back while scouting Ginobili. The circumstances for bringing Oberto over just weren't right. Things never seemed to fall into place. Other teams noticed him, too, especially after he helped Argentina to the 2004 Olympic gold medal, but no one ever pulled the trigger.
Countryman Luis Scola was drafted by the Spurs. Andres Nocioni went to Chicago. Carlos Delfino was signed by Detroit. Ginobili had already blossomed into a star. Oberto wondered if his chance would ever come.
In 2005, it finally did. At 30 years old, Oberto was brought in to play a role on a veteran perennial contender. He joined his buddy Manu on the Spurs, signing a three-year deal. Having won European championships and Olympic gold, Oberto finally got the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of his profession.
"There's definitely a difference in the NBA, and last year, I had to get adjusted to all the new dimensions, and I definitely took time to enjoy and appreciate it," Oberto said in Spanish. "But in the playoffs, you see something even more special. You can really feel the buzz around the city and the love from the fans. This is what you always dream of."
And he is making the most of it.
Of big men Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, Oberto is the only non-All-Star starting in these Western Conference finals, but he's putting up great numbers, posting 14 points and seven rebounds in each of the first two games -- both San Antonio victories. He's averaging 31 minutes, about 14 more than he did during the regular season, and has been pivotal with his fundamentally sound approach next to the Big Fundamental, knocking down 12 of 15 shots.
If there was one concern the Spurs had regarding facing Utah, it was matching up with its size and keeping pace on the boards. Oberto has helped in both aspects.
"Fabio is playing great. He's had a lot of big games in Europe and internationally and I think he's playing like he's not scared," Spurs point guard Tony Parker said. "He's played hard, been physical, he's always there at the right time, in the right position, setting great picks and we're finding him. He's rolling all the time and with all the help, maybe they have a tendency of forgetting about him since they're so focused with me, Manu and Timmy."
It's no coincidence that Oberto's strengths involve basic basketball. He might as well be Argentina's version of Duncan, not necessarily because of his dominance, but rather because of his approach to the game. Rarely do you see Oberto make a mistake, and it's that dependability that has endeared him to head coach Gregg Popovich and his teammates. Despite being a year younger than Oberto, Duncan has been a major influence on his game.
"I used to watch him on television and emulate his moves," said Oberto. "His ability to control the game, to dominate on both ends, is incredible. Seeing it up close daily makes you appreciate it even more. Being able to assist, alter shots, rebound, score and do all the things he does really makes it easy for his teammates, makes it easy for me alongside him."
