Matt Costello hoping opportunity with Spurs propels NBA career

DIMONDALE — Matt Costello knows the importance of being attached to the San Antonio Spurs brand. 

The championship pedigree, the player development, the consistency, it's all led to the Spurs becoming the NBA's model franchise for nearly two decades. 

So when the option presented itself for the former Michigan State center to latch on to Greg Popovich and Co. in San Antonio, he saw it as a no-brainer.

"The opportunity with the Spurs was the best opportunity out there, and that includes all aspects, not just money and playing opportunity, even those both include very good pluses," said Costello following Tuesday's Moneyball Pro-Am. "Their program is run much like Michigan State. Pop runs the show. If you're in the Spurs organization you just have a chance to grow, and not that you will necessary sign with the Spurs next year, but everybody else looks at you in a different light when you've gone through their program."

Costello became the newest Spur earlier this week when he signed a two-way contract. The two-way contract is new to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, and it splits up a players time between the franchise's main roster and its Gatorade League affiliate. 

Under the two-way contract, a player who signs it is looked at as the 16th and 17th man on a roster. The player can spend up to 45 days with the NBA team that signs him, but those days aren't guaranteed.

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Still, it was an opportunity Costello said he couldn't pass up after a strong Las Vegas Summer League outing with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 11.3 points and 12 rebounds, which led all players.

Costello said he knew that he was on the Spurs' radar.

"I went to a free-agent camp with them earlier in the summer, and I kind of got an opportunity to see what they were all about," Costello said. "They said, 'We'll be looking at you. Hope you play well in Vegas.' I guess I played well enough in Vegas to get a call."

The 6-foot-10 big man, who will once again be teammates with former Spartan Bryn Forbes, spent last season in the G League with the Iowa Energy and averaged 9.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

Costello said he's looking forward to competing with NBA guys. He's ready to prove himself as an NBA player.

Former MSU teammate and Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine believes Costello has the tools to succeed.

"I believe he can play in the league for 15 years if he wanted to," Valentine said Tuesday. "He takes care of his body, he does the right things in the game, he doesn't need the ball, and he can knock down that 15-foot shot."

Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.