Laprovittola aims to solidify NBA status, help Argentina

SAN ANTONIO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Nicolas Laprovittola knows that in no way, shape, or form is he the second coming of Argentina basketball icon Manu Ginobili in San Antonio.

There is only one Manu, Spurs fans will say. He's the 39-year-old shooting guard that has had a Hall-of-Fame worthy NBA career playing for coach Gregg Popovich. 

Ginobili is loaded with experience and possesses far more athleticism than Laprovittola, who is still a very, very good player.

The two do have some similarities. Members of the Argentina side that reached the Quarter-Finals of the Olympics in Brazil, both show plenty of panache and also play to win.

For Laprovittola, it's not about becoming more like Manu in San Antonio. The desire is simply to get better - a lot better. He is in the NBA and wants to stay there. Argentina, the side that Laprovittola has played for in each of the past four summers, stand to benefit.

"The NBA is one step more for me," Laprovittola said. "I need to develop my game, to improve my game. I think after this season, I will try to get in better shape with my body, with my game, to be ready for the next summer with the national team."

Argentina need Laprovittola to help the country maintain its status as an elite basketball nation, one that is high in the FIBA World Rankings. Putting on the national team shirt is something that he will concentrate on after the season.

"I talk every day with Facu Campazzo, with Patricio Garino and my (Argentina) teammates but the truth is, I'm very focused on the NBA, my moment here," Laprovittola said to FIBA.com. "But for sure, after the season, we have to be again with the national team and try to do the best like every tournament."

Argentina will need Laprovittola to be at his best when they play at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017. El Alma will not have Ginobili or Andres Nocioni, so Laprovittola must be a leader in the side.

"I think we have to improve our play," Laprovittola said. "We don't have a Manu and Chapu (Nocioni). We will be a new team again, we have to respect the coach.

"We don't know the coach but we are waiting for the decision for the coach and after, we can think about the team."

Laprovittola played for coach Julio Lamas at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup while Sergio Hernandez was in charge of Argentina at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship and at this summer's Olympics.

Argentina will be looking to have Luis Scola back. Scola was the MVP of last year's FIBA Americas Championship. The team could also have Carlos Delfino, another member of the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal-winning side who made an unexpected return to the national team after a long injury lay-off.

"We have Luis Scola, we have Carlos Delfino," Laprovittola said. "They help the young guys a lot. They are leaders and we follow them."

And Argentina's players, as Laprovittola continues to get better, will also follow him. He's now in the world's toughest league. To be an NBA player brings additional street cred in the world of basketball.

It is easy to see why the Spurs signed Laprovittola. He has savvy in abundance. Like Ginobili, Laprovittola has a penchant for making big plays, something he did during his time with Brazilian giants and 2014 FIBA Americas league winners Flamengo.

He was the MVP of the 2015 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Now he has to show that he can hold on to his spot with the Spurs, and in the NBA.

FIBA