The DeMar DeRozan period in San Antonio wasn’t notably profitable. The Spurs remained considerably related, chasing play-in spots, however principally got here up wanting making the playoffs. It wasn’t DeRozan’s fault, as he was all the time knowledgeable and performed as much as his profession requirements, however each the participant and the workforce in all probability take into account these years forgettable.
Off the court docket, nonetheless, an indelible bond was being fashioned. As DeMar DeRozan suffered the lack of his father, Gregg Popovich did all he might to make issues straightforward for his star and DeRozan hasn’t forgotten about it. In a current interview on ESPN’s podcast Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective, he informed a narrative of how supportive his then-coach was:
There have been many instances the place, it was sure video games, when Pop would come and ask me one thing and he’d inform me after the sport “Simply go dwelling. Simply go dwelling. We’ve got shootaround in two days. You don’t need to be at shootaround. Simply be prepared for the sport. There have been so many video games I had in San Antonio the place in between video games I wasn’t there. I used to be tending to my dad. And he allowed me to try this with no distractions, with no nothing. Telling me “You don’t have to fret concerning the media.” And it was the good factor as a result of there have been so many moments I cherish with my dad throughout that point that Pop allowed me to do it with no challenge in any respect.
The entire interview with DeRozan, who’s on a press tour for his memoir “Above the noise,” is price a pay attention, as he’s candid about his battle with despair, however the part about Pop is heartwarming. The star wing additionally mentions he was nervous about asking Pop to jot down the foreword for his e book and that folks shouldn’t anticipate to see his former coach within the public eye as soon as he retires.
It’s not the primary time DeRozan talks about Pop being supportive throughout his making an attempt instances coping with his father’s passing. Again in June, throughout an look on the 25/10 Present DeRozan gushed about Pop, who he referred to as “the OG of OGs” and “the realest particular person I’ve ever been round” earlier than telling a touching anecdote about one of many worst nights of his life:
My pops had handed once I was taking part in in San Antonio. We had been caught in Charlotte and I referred to as the GM like “yo, bro, I’m about to fly dwelling tonight, I’m about to attempt to get a airplane outta right here, I gotta get dwelling. My pops simply handed.” So I name the GM. I didn’t need anyone to know, I didn’t need it to be all within the media. Actually 90 seconds later I hear a knock on the door. It’s Pop. Pop sat in a room with me and cried with me for about two hours. He was like “I’m not leaving till you allow.” And that simply confirmed the individual he was.
It’s refreshing to see an athlete be as open about his struggles as DeRozan is, partially as a result of it permits the followers, who usually don’t see gamers or coaches as human, to get a peak at the true individuals sporting the jerseys and calling the performs. DeRozan is a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA participant who might nonetheless make some noise along with his new workforce, the Kings, however his work speaking about psychological well being might be his greatest achievement.
As a constructive byproduct of that work, Spurs followers get extra tales that corroborate that the legendary coach they’ve loved for many years isn’t just a superb strategist but additionally a superb individual.
