The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed free-agent guard Damon Stoudamire. Per club policy terms of the agreement were not announced. InsideHoops.com editor's take is at the bottom of this page.

The 5-10, 175-pound Stoudamire joins the Spurs after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on 1/28. Now in his 13th NBA season, he has also played for the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers. Stoudamire was originally drafted seventh overall by Toronto in the 1995 NBA Draft.

Named Rookie of the Year in 1996, Stoudamire has averaged 13.8 points, 6.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.11 steals while appearing in 847 regular season contests. He has shot .407 (4,286-10,519) from the field, .358 (1,222-3,409) from behind the arc and .833 (1,863-2,236) from the line. In 46 postseason games he averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 assists.

Stoudamire ranks second all-time in Portland history with 717 three-pointers made and third in assists with 3,018. He also set a Blazers single-game scoring record with 54 points on 1/14/05 at New Orleans. In that game he tied franchise marks in field goals (20), points in a half (30) and three-pointers (8).

The 34-year-old Stoudamire enjoyed his best season during the 1996-1997 campaign when he averaged 20.2 points, 8.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.52 steals while appearing in 81 games. He was one of only four guards (Michael Jordan, Latrell Sprewell and Kevin Johnson were the others) to rank among the NBA leaders in five categories: scoring (19th), assists (sixth), free throw percentage (28th), steals (29th) and minutes (fourth). He also finished ninth in the league with 176 three-pointers made.

Prior to joining San Antonio, Stoudamire started all 29 games in which he appeared for the Grizzlies this season. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes while connecting on .383 (36-94) of his three-point attempts. He set a season-high with 19 points (6-8 FG, 4-5 3PT-FG, 3-3 FT) along 5 assists on 12/5 at Houston.

InsideHoops.com editor says: With Tony Parker suffering lingering injuries and Jacque Vaughn the team's only backup point guard, this is a fantastic signing. Stoudamire should help this season and perhaps next year as well. He has a good enough grasp on smart, fundamental basketball to fit in.

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