An Appreciation of Gregg Popovich

Gregg Popovich formally retired as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs final Friday, however I’ve a severe knack for being unavailable when large information hits. I used to be touring from Houston to San Antonio on Friday morning when J.R. Wilco texted me the large information. I instructed him I couldn’t get it at that second as a result of I used to be driving, however I used to be ready to make a pit cease within the subsequent tiny city of Waelder, TX if wanted. Fortuitously, the at all times dependable Jacob Douglas got here to the rescue.

After an especially busy weekend (and after getting to look at his press convention on Monday), that is the primary probability I’ve needed to actually ponder the which means of this huge information. It’s historic. It’s emotional. It’s each staff and league-altering, and it’s one thing all of us most likely knew was coming however would by no means be prepared to simply accept when it really occurred. We’ve already had loads of wonderful items on this matter, so be sure you go verify them out, however after protecting the staff for 9 seasons now, I couldn’t let such a monumental second in basketball historical past slide with out giving Coach Pop my very own correct sendoff.

Whereas I’ve been a Spurs fan my total life and grew up idolizing David Robinson, I solely began watching them religiously initially of the Tim Duncan period as a result of that occurred to coincide with my mother permitting it (after we acquired our homework carried out, in fact). This was only a 12 months after Pop fired Bob Hill, took the pinnacle teaching job for himself, and “tanked” for Duncan.

After a record-setting common season turnaround, they as soon as once more fell to Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz within the second spherical of the 1998 Playoffs. (I keep in mind hoping they’d get some revenge after Malone knocked the Admiral out chilly just a few weeks prior, however alas.) Then, Pop’s job was in severe jeopardy to begin the lockout-shortened 1999 season, when a staff with championship aspirations was out to a 6-8 begin. Pop’s gamers liked him however knew he was most likely one loss away from shedding his job, so they’d a staff assembly and got here out decided to win their subsequent recreation in Houston. They did, and as everyone knows, the remainder is historical past.

That being stated, I didn’t know a lot about Pop on the time. The web was nonetheless very younger, and engines like google had been simply changing into a factor. All I knew was my grandmother, who was a passionate Spurs fan, hated Pop, thought he was jerk and snake within the grass, and didn’t assume he could lead on the staff to the promised land. She wasn’t the one one who thought that means, however thankfully, he and everybody else proved her incorrect in 1999, and her want of seeing her beloved staff win a championship was fulfilled a 12 months earlier than she handed.

As time went on, the Spurs saved profitable and rebuilding by unconventional means, reminiscent of utilizing the then-untapped European market, late first/early second spherical picks, and castoffs from different groups to construct one of many strongest supporting casts within the NBA. With three extra championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, Pop had greater than gained the respect of the San Antonio and NBA communities, and the Spurs’ standing as a dynasty was cemented, however doubters nonetheless had their nit picks.

“The Spurs can’t repeat. Pop acquired fortunate. He was handed an excellent staff. Nobody’s watching,” and so forth had been the widespread posts in message boards and feedback sections. Even professionals who shouldn’t be haters (at the very least publicly), like Phil Jackson and former NBA Commissioner David Stern, would categorical their distaste for the “boring” Spurs who didn’t deliver as many viewers to the Finals as the large market groups.

Even so, profitable is profitable, and it was solely after the championships stopped coming with relative ease would Pop face his hardest and maybe most rewarding problem but. With a tricky (by Spurs requirements) stretch from 2009-2011, they continued to win their requisite 50 video games however couldn’t get out of the primary two rounds of the playoffs, even shedding as the highest seed to the eighth seeded Grizzlies in 2011 whereas Manu Ginobili performed with a damaged elbow. It was changing into clear that Tim Duncan’s knee points had been catching as much as him, and Pop knew it was time to shake issues up.

Protection may nonetheless win championships, however offense was on the rise, and groups nonetheless wanted to attain sufficient to get there. That’s when Pop made one of many largest changes to the sport in fashionable basketball historical past. He moved away from the post-up heavy, outside-in recreation centered round Duncan, added extra unselfish ball motion, and The Stunning Sport was born. Though it featured extra of the shot Pop despised probably the most — the three-pointer — it was unstoppable for opposing defenses.

The one different factor the Spurs had been lacking was the defensive wing stopper they’d in Bruce Bowen throughout their three-in-five-years championship run, and so they discovered him in a non-Spursian means. Breaking their mildew of usually holding or stashing their very own late draft picks, they traded up for Kawhi Leonard at fifteenth total though it meant gifting away considered one of Pop’s all-time favourite gamers, George Hill. All these adjustments confirmed that even an outdated curmudgeon like Pop was keen to make changes to win, and all of it got here collectively for his or her most magical championship of all in 2014, which had Pop displaying uncommon indicators of emotion with tears of pleasure.

That ultimate championship would find yourself being the height of Pop’s profession. He had seemingly carried out the inconceivable, which was construct a second dynasty centered round Kawhi to succeed the Huge Three of Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker with nary a blip, however Leonard determined he needed to play in his hometown of Los Angeles. He and his uncle tarnished the Spurs’ popularity so he may justify demanding a commerce from not simply what was thought of the best group in sports activities, but additionally a staff that was already constructed to contend. (And sure, with all that we knew then and all we’ve got seen since, I stand by that narrative.)

There have been nonetheless some highs in these attempting occasions, reminiscent of Pop changing into the winningest coach of all time…

… however after just a few years within the no-man’s land as a play-in degree staff that lacked upside, the Spurs realized the one option to climb again up the mountain was to get a brand new franchise participant, and so they did it the identical means they’d earlier than: tank in the appropriate season and pray to the lottery gods. That required buying and selling away their greatest gamers, together with draft-day steals/basic Spurs underdog tales Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, but it surely paid off. For the third time in franchise historical past, the Spurs struck gold with a possible all-time nice large man in Victor Wembanyama.

Pop had at all times stated he wouldn’t cross a shedding staff on to a brand new coach, and would see them by the rebuild, however now he had a brand new motive to stay round. He felt revitalized by teaching younger gamers and serving to them develop not simply on the courtroom, but additionally in life: considered one of his best attributes. Regardless of getting loads of criticism for “experimenting” an excessive amount of throughout Wemby’s rookie season, it once more paid off with a second straight large draft get in Stephon Fortress, and after signing veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, the Spurs appeared able to take the subsequent step this season.

Sadly, Pop didn’t get to be part of it. After simply 5 video games, it was reported that he had suffered a well being concern previous to the sport November 2, and it could later be revealed that it was a stroke — a severe concern regardless of how “minor”. He wouldn’t return for the rest of the season. Mitch Johnson acted as his interim earlier than Pop lastly introduced final week that he simply didn’t really feel he may recuperate sufficient for the taxing grind of being a head coach and handed the torch to his protege whereas sustaining his title of President of Basketball Operations.

After all, the Corridor of Fame coach — who was recognized for his crass perspective in public however is definitely one of many kindest, funniest personalities within the league — had one final joke up his sleeve, revealing himself as “El Jefe” (or the boss) in his first public look in six months.

Seeing Pop for the primary time was a aid but additionally sobering, because it revealed his true situation. On the similar time, it was an incredible reminder of who he’s as an individual. He was flanked by Ginobili and Duncan, who he stated had been by his facet at each rehab exercise (whereas additionally joking they they had been out for revenge for all of the years he yelled at them), which was a reminder of the daddy determine he has been to all his gamers and employees. Johnson reaffirmed this moments later as he was launched as the brand new head coach, and regardless of the problems a number of participant well being points introduced in Pop’s ultimate official season as head coach, it seems protected to say he succeeded in his purpose of making what ought to be a profitable staff with a franchise participant and loads of potential upside for his successor.

There by no means has and by no means will probably be one other Gregg Popovich. His navy background mixed with an underdog mentality from his youthful enjoying/teaching days make him his personal distinctive individual. He’s beloved by all he has labored with, and whereas another person will formally be roaming the sidelines for the primary time in 28 years, the tradition and legacy he constructed will proceed to stay on whereas he operates the franchise from an workplace. This isn’t the top of Pop and the Spurs, it’s merely the beginning of a brand new period.

Thanks for every little thing, Pop. The Spurs and metropolis of San Antonio wouldn’t be the identical with out you.