RealGM

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs announced the re- signing of forward/center Kurt Thomas on Tuesday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A 13-season veteran, Thomas was acquired by the Spurs on February 20 in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Brent Barry and Francisco Elson. In 28 games for the Spurs the 35-year-old averaged 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

Spurs officials, who consider Thomas more vital to last season's run to the conference finals than his raw numbers indicate, are pleased to have him back.

“He's a pro,” Buford said. “He has great maturity and presence in the locker room, and winning a championship is important to him. When you combine those things, it's easy to understand why he's here.”

Thomas spent the past three weeks gauging interest from other teams, most notably Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers. All along, he maintained his preference was to return to San Antonio.

The Spurs could offer Thomas more money, and perhaps more playing time, than any other suitor.

“From the beginning, Kurt wanted to be here, and we wanted to keep him here,” Buford said. “Our discussions with him and his representatives were always proactive and efficient and specific toward keeping him here.”

Thomas cast the decision to come back to San Antonio as a no-brainer.

“It wasn't tough at all,” he said. “I really enjoy playing with Timmy (Duncan) and Manu (Ginobili) and Tony (Parker). I liked being around the guys, I liked playing for (coach Gregg Popovich), and the fans were great fans. That kind of made it a real easy decision.”

For now, Thomas has one outstanding order of business.

He ended last season with his worldly possessions scattered between homes in Seattle and Dallas and a hotel room in San Antonio. He will spend the rest of the summer consolidating his belongings and looking for more permanent accommodations in the city where, perhaps, he will finish his career.

“I really enjoyed the short time I was with the team last year,” Thomas said. “I really didn't like the way things ended (short of the Finals). I'm ready to get back and try and do better.”