Gregg Popovich turned down an offer to coach Russian National Team?

[ace3g]

Gregg Popovich was offered to coach the Russian National Team but the coach of the San Antonio Spurs turned down the proposal due to personal reasons.

Popovich, according to Championat (http://www.championat.com/basketball/news-1396655-gregg-popovich-mog-vozglavit-sbornuju-rossii-po-basketbolu.html), loves the Russian culture and has been several times in Russia but he had to reject the offer due to personal matters.

Russian Federationis looking for a coach since David Blatt decided to leave the bench. The other names for the bench are Jure Zdovc, Fotis Katsikaris and Dirk Bauermann.


http://www.sportando.net/eng/usa/nba/47688/gregg-popovic-turned-down-an-offer-to-coach-russian-national-team.html

[silverblackfan]

WTF? Is this and old article? How much could he really love the Russian culture to leave the franchise he helped put on the map?

[exstatic]

WTF? Is this and old article? How much could he really love the Russian culture to leave the franchise he helped put on the map?

Uh, he wouldn't have to quit the Spurs to do that gig. Like USA*Basketball, it's a summertime thing. He would give up any chance of ever coaching the US, though.

[cd98]

Even if this is old, I can't see Pop coaching any other national team.

He would permanently lose any chance to coach Team USA if he did coach the Russians or any other team. I think the powers that be would hold that against him. If it's an assistance coach in the NBA coaching a national team, I can see that. But a high profile coach like Pop, I think that would be the end for him.

Morover, as much as he promotes international players, I do think he would have a tough time coaching the Russian team against Team USA. At some point, patriotism takes over and its hard to coach against your country. I can see if you know you will never have the opportunity to coach Team USA, but he is in the top 3 as far as candidates for the next Olympics. He has a good chance of being the next head coach.

[silverblackfan]

Ah. Summertime gig. My bad. Still a bit weird that he considers the job.

[Spurs9]

Who wants to live in Russia?

[timvp]

It'll be a shame if Pop doesn't get offered the Team USA job. Doc Rivers is a very good coach but Pop definitely deserves it.

[pad300]

Of course he turned it down. He's still worried about that incident with GRU from 1989...

[ambchang]

He should to it, as a huge FU to Colangelo and USA basketball.

[Pero]

Uh, he wouldn't have to quit the Spurs to do that gig. Like USA*Basketball, it's a summertime thing. He would give up any chance of ever coaching the US, though.
Why? Is that an internal US rule for coaches or something? Because I don't think that's how it is in international basketball. Bogdan Tanjevič for example coached both Italy and Turkey or Memi Bečirovič coached Slovenia before and now Iran.

[dunkman]

Of course he turned it down. He's still worried about that incident with GRU from 1989...

What happened with the GRU?

[Obstructed_View]

What happened with the GRU?

Not positive, but I think it's a joke about Pop's Soviet studies background.

[NRHector]

well if he does he can actually be CIA Pop

[cd98]

well if he does he can actually be CIA Pop

Double Agent.

[Spursfan092120]

It'll be a shame if Pop doesn't get offered the Team USA job. Doc Rivers is a very good coach but Pop definitely deserves it.
I think even Doc said Pop deserved it, iirc

[PingPong]

Who wants to live in Russia?

Why? Cheap vodka, accessible beautiful women, crazy nightlife, real thugs...


:lol:lol

[playblair]

Why? Cheap vodka, accessible beautiful women, crazy nightlife, real thugs...


:lol:lol

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A9knpviCQAE26qt.jpg:large

[Mel_13]

Why? Is that an internal US rule for coaches or something? Because I don't think that's how it is in international basketball. Bogdan Tanjevič for example coached both Italy and Turkey or Memi Bečirovič coached Slovenia before and now Iran.

There's no rule preventing it, but a new US coach will be selected in the next few months. If someone else is selected, especially a younger man like Doc Rivers, then Pop would likely to be too old the next time the position became vacant. If he accepted the position with the Russian Team, he would not be available this time around.

[z0sa]

He did major in Soviet Studies after all.

[Pero]

There's no rule preventing it, but a new US coach will be selected in the next few months. If someone else is selected, especially a younger man like Doc Rivers, then Pop would likely to be too old the next time the position became vacant. If he accepted the position with the Russian Team, he would not be available this time around.
Aah!

[DapDaGenius]

That picture of Jackson is way too damn big. :lol

[Paranoid Pop]

He should have pulled a Becky Hammon, he already got snubbed in the US.

[Obstructed_View]

He should have pulled a Becky Hammon, he already got snubbed in the US.

Yeah but he doesn't suck.

[PingPong]

http://www.reallyghey.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/bigchain.jpg


http://millvalleyconfidential.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/5/2/11527581/9716437_orig.jpg

http://jetsetreport.com/admin2/photos/rai1.jpg


http://russianvodka.com/images/russian-vodka-shelves.jpg

[Spur|n|Austin]

Who wants to live in Russia?

In soviet Russia, Russia lives in you.

[pad300]

Not positive, but I think it's a joke about Pop's Soviet studies background.

Yes, it's a CIA Pop joke...

[Obstructed_View]

Yes, it's a CIA Pop joke...

I thought it was funny, then I wondered if maybe there was something I didn't get. :lol

[DesignatedT]

Unfortunately, after reading past interviews and such I don't think Colangelo is a big fan of offering Pop the team USA gig.

[lefty]

Coach me dat Becky

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Becky+Hammon+Olympics+Day+5+Basketball+_0KsKKCnZpM l.jpg

[szkorhetz]

Then, we should take over Croatia.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1266576-croatian-basketball-player-antonija-miura-is-most-beautiful-woman-at-olympics

[Beaverfuzz]

Hire Nikolai Volkoff.