Chip joins Spurs

It’s confirmed. Chip Engelland, the former Duke University shooting star who lived three years in Manila, has joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) champion San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach.

"The reason I have not told anybody about San Antonio was that my contract was just signed and San Antonio has not officially announced the deal," wrote Engelland recently in an e-mail.

Engelland, 44, had a live contract with the Denver Nuggets but was allowed to talk to other teams concerning job options. Denver coach George Karl reportedly wanted Engelland to stay.

The Spurs weren’t the only team interested in Engelland’s services. The Los Angeles Lakers also sought permission from the Nuggets to make an offer.

Engelland grew up in Los Angeles where he was a ball boy for the UCLA varsity that won the NCAA title in 1979. He played at Pacific Palisades High School and led the entire Los Angeles city prep system in scoring in 1979.

Los Angeles would’ve been a perfect place for Engelland to settle because of his high school roots but it had to be difficult to resist the San Antonio offer, particularly as the Laker situation is so fluid with newly-rehired coach Phil Jackson trying to mend fences with Kobe Bryant.

The choice between San Antonio and Los Angeles was easy.

Engelland, a sweet shooter himself, gained an enviable reputation as a "shooting doctor" after working with the likes of Steve Kerr, Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Larry Hughes, Corey Maggette and Chamique Holdsclaw.

In 2000, he was hired by the Detroit Pistons as a shooting coach. And two years later, Engelland was signed by the Nuggets as an assistant coach in charge of player development. It was Engelland’s task to polish the shooting skills of the Nuggets’ younger cagers.

Karl told writer Don Harris he found out about Engelland’s new job from a message in his voice mail. Engelland phoned to say goodbye.

"I’m sure he looks at it, that they have a championship team and he makes more money," said Karl, quoted in the Rocky Mountain News. "But those rationales, to me, are just lawyers and agents and not true happiness."

Karl, of course, was sourgraping. Known as a whiner, Karl repeatedly complained when the Nuggets played the Spurs in the first round of the recent NBA playoffs. How ironic that Engelland is now with the team that eliminated Denver.

"Carmelo (Anthony) gets killed," protested Karl during the playoffs. "They walk underneath him every time he touches the ball. Earl (Boykins) gets bumped but because he’s so small they won’t give him any respect. (Manu) Ginobili gets the same bump and gets to the free throw line."

So it wasn’t unexpected for Karl to grumble when he learned that Engelland had jumped ship.

Writer Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express-News said the Spurs hired Engelland to improve their free throw shooting and refine Tony Parker’s jumper. The job opening surfaced when advance scout Joe Prunty left to join the Dallas Mavericks staff.

"Engelland’s work with Kerr made him one of the league’s most famed shooting coaches," said Ludden.

San Antonio shot .724 from the stripe last season. That was No. 26 of 30 teams in the NBA. The year before, the Spurs ranked dead last in the standings at .681.

Engelland will, no doubt, make Tim Duncan a priority. Duncan shot .799 in 2001-02 but has since hit a combined .666 the past three seasons. As the Spurs’ anchor and No. 1 offensive weapon, Duncan is fouled a lot. Bringing his free throw shooting clip to close to .800 may mean the difference in winning or losing critical games.

"The Spurs also hope Engelland can work with Parker," added Ludden. "While Parker shot a career-best .482 from the field last season, he has labored to develop a consistent outside shot, limiting his effectiveness in the playoffs when opposing teams keep him from getting to the rim."

Engelland said the Spurs job won’t blunt his enthusiasm in helping out the Philippine team if the opportunity arises.

"I’d love to help the national team in any way I can, you know that," said Engelland. "I’m the easiest person to reach. My wish is to go back to the Philippines and see my teammates again. I really miss them. And I’d like to visit coach Ron (Jacobs)."

In case the national team is interested, Engelland left his cell number.

The NBA’s top shooting doctor is only a phone call away.