The San Antonio Spurs' run through the 2014 NBA postseason was a remarkable one, with a team of veterans following several season of playoff disappointments to capture the fifth championship in franchise history and first since 2007. The 2013-14 Spurs were a special group with one of the most balanced and precise offenses in recent memory. They may soon become a model for any team looking to succeed without one of the two or three biggest stars in the sport. Good luck emulating it, though.
The Spurs received their 2014 championship rings on Tuesday night before the 2014-15 opener against the Dallas Mavericks, allowing fans at the AT&T Center another chance to look back on the accomplishments of last June and celebrate the team that made it all possible. You can watch the ceremony below:
Commissioner Adam Silver opened things up by congratulating the team and owner Peter Holt (donning his finest dress dungarees) with a short speech. The team's coaches and player then received their rings, after which Tony Parker addressed and thanked the fans for their support.
[Photos: San Antonio Spurs receive NBA championship rings]
The Spurs' rings themselves are decidedly flashier than the franchise's reputation for no-nonsense professionalism. You can check out some close-ups below along with some information from the team's press release:
The Championship ring contains more than three ounces of 14 carat white gold with 5.09 total carat weight of diamonds. The top includes 76 round, 10 princess cut, and four baguette diamonds. Around the edge of the top are 42 round diamonds.
The left side of the ring showcases the player’s name and number along with the NBA logo and winning year 2014. The right side of the ring showcases the Spurs “Pounding the Rock” symbol containing 22 round diamonds. There are five sparks shooting out from the rock which will contain the number of diamonds that coincide with the number of championships an individual player is associated with.
That's a tough break for NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who won his first title last season. I suppose the Spurs need some way to show everyone that Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich remain the leaders of the team as they enter their 18th season together.
Receiving this hardware on opening night is likely to inspire the Spurs even more as they attempt to repeat as champions for the first time in franchise history. If they're able to do so, then the core of Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili will have yet another achievement to add to their Hall of Fame careers.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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