Earlier in the week, Popovich said he thought the point guard might be ready to return Saturday against New York. He now thinks Parker will need more time to rehabilitate his left ankle.

Spurs guard Tony Parker's sprained left ankle is healing but it is likely to keep him out of the team's opener on Tuesday night against Phoenix.

"Tony will probably be back by the second or third game," (Coach Greg) Popovich said Thursday. "He'll be back pretty quickly."

"Unlike last season, when he was cut at the end of training camp,(Devin)Brown figures to be playing in a Spurs jersey for a while. He has a guaranteed contract for the league minimum with a team option for one additional season. Barring any unforeseen development, he will be on the roster when the season begins Tuesday."

"Tony Parker sprained his left ankle 44 seconds into the Spurs' 88-74 loss to New York ? an injury that could possibly sideline him for the opening game of the season."

Could Australia's best basketball player be back in the bigtime after retiring from his native league?  According to the Australian basketball league website the answer may just be yes.

Former Sydney Kings skipper Shane Heal is heading to San Antonio to try to secure a spot on the roster of the reigning NBA champion Spurs.

The Boomers guard will be on his way to Texas as soon as the Spurs secure his US visa and should be available for the club?s pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 14.

On Monday, Heal signed an NBA contract that gives San Antonio the option of cutting him at any time, however the 33-year-old is hopeful that he can be seen as a replacement in the rotation for retired three-point specialist Steve Kerr.

"I know that there are no guarantees with this type of contract except that I have a chance to make the best team in basketball,? Heal said on his website, hammer.net.au.

?I could be there three weeks, three months, or the whole season. How long I am there will be determined by how well I practice and play, and how my game fits the needs of the team."

Atlanta Hawks General Manager Billy Knight today announced the signing of free agent guard/forward Stephen Jackson to a contract. Per team policy, terms were not announced.