Ettore Messina had taken a sip from the NBA cup before when he was a consultant on Mike Brown's staff with the Lakers for the 2011-12 season.

This time is like opening wide, throwing back his head and drinking it all in. "The Spurs," he said with a grin. "It is a familiar taste." A comfortable fit, like a designer Italian suit.
The team with nine international players from seven different countries now adds another bit of overseas flair to the mix with an assistant coach with a worldly resume.

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Source: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com