Team USA is getting ready to take on all-comers in their quest to bring the gold back home. Their first game is set for Sunday, July 28, against reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and his Serbian teammates. Steve Kerr will lead the charge of star-studded individuals tasked with representing the country. Before things kicked off, he had time to join ESPN’s Hannah Storm on her podcast, NBA DNA, and he dropped a gem about San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Coach Pop’s humble personality has elevated his career
Coaches and players around the league have always spoken positively about Coach Pop and there’s a reason for that. He never forgets that his job as a coach is only made possible by the players who are willing to be coached and he had the ultimate coach’s player. You usually hear about this in reverse, regarding the player’s coaches, but the shoe is on the other foot in this instance.
Every coach would love to have a great player who allows them to do their job without pushback and ego. But it takes two to tango, and Coach Popovich’s humble, honest, and selfless personality no doubt played a role in Tim Duncan’s willingness to trust him.
There are a ton of factors that go into building a dynasty, but the foundation needs to be strong, first and foremost. That foundation was the relationship between Coach Pop and the Big Fundamental. Spurs fans benefited in the best possible way, experiencing a run of relevancy, unlike many others in the history of sports. When he eventually retires, Pop will be missed for a lot of reasons, but his relationship building will top that list.
