timvp
10-10-2007, 03:26 AM
Popovich surprises Johnson with news of honor
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
DALLAS — When Avery Johnson picked up the telephone some weeks ago and heard what Gregg Popovich had to say, he thought the Spurs head coach had cracked open one too many bottles of Bordeaux.
The Spurs, Popovich was trying to tell him, had decided to retire his No. 6 jersey.
“I thought he was just kidding me,” Johnson said, “or that he'd had too much wine.”
It was no joke, and the ceremony to retire Johnson's number has been set for Dec. 22, after the Spurs' game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Neither Popovich nor Johnson wanted the occasion to be affected by the intensity of a Spurs-Mavericks matchup.
“Avery and I decided that would be too cruel,” Popovich said. “One of us would have to fake like we were having a good time.”
Johnson, who played nine seasons for the Spurs, is the team's all-time leader in assists. He said the honor ranks “up there” among those he has received, including being named NBA Coach of the Year.
“What a thrill,” Johnson said. “What an honor. It's pretty special. You go to the arenas around the NBA, and there's not many guys whose jerseys are hanging in the rafters.”
Popovich instigated the decision to raise Johnson's number to the AT&T Center rafters.
“Avery thought it was going to come when he was about 49 years old,” Popovich said. “I didn't want to wait that long. I wanted to do it while I'm here, very selfishly. I want to be there and be part of the Spurs when we retire his jersey, so why not just do it now? He obviously deserves it.”
Officially speaking: The Spurs received their annual preseason briefing from league referees after their morning practice at the AT&T Center.
Steve Javie, one of the NBA's top referees and the crew chief at Tuesday's game, spoke to the players and coaches about plays and calls the officials have been instructed to emphasize this season, including an ongoing crackdown on traveling.
Another emphasis: More leeway for big men to defend smaller players who drive to the basket.
“They were talking about some stuff about the bigs not getting so many (foul) calls in the paint when we smalls drive into them,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who has benefited from his share of foul calls when driving to the basket.
Easy path to championship? The Mavericks smarted all summer after being ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, who turned out to be the hottest of the NBA's low-seeded playoff teams.
What did the Mavs think of the Spurs' path to the 2007 NBA title.
“They had, as we would see it, an easy road,” swingman Jerry Stackhouse said. “Really, their main threat was Phoenix, who imploded and messed up their chances.
“But, hey, take nothing away from them. You've still got to go win it, and they did that.”
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
DALLAS — When Avery Johnson picked up the telephone some weeks ago and heard what Gregg Popovich had to say, he thought the Spurs head coach had cracked open one too many bottles of Bordeaux.
The Spurs, Popovich was trying to tell him, had decided to retire his No. 6 jersey.
“I thought he was just kidding me,” Johnson said, “or that he'd had too much wine.”
It was no joke, and the ceremony to retire Johnson's number has been set for Dec. 22, after the Spurs' game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Neither Popovich nor Johnson wanted the occasion to be affected by the intensity of a Spurs-Mavericks matchup.
“Avery and I decided that would be too cruel,” Popovich said. “One of us would have to fake like we were having a good time.”
Johnson, who played nine seasons for the Spurs, is the team's all-time leader in assists. He said the honor ranks “up there” among those he has received, including being named NBA Coach of the Year.
“What a thrill,” Johnson said. “What an honor. It's pretty special. You go to the arenas around the NBA, and there's not many guys whose jerseys are hanging in the rafters.”
Popovich instigated the decision to raise Johnson's number to the AT&T Center rafters.
“Avery thought it was going to come when he was about 49 years old,” Popovich said. “I didn't want to wait that long. I wanted to do it while I'm here, very selfishly. I want to be there and be part of the Spurs when we retire his jersey, so why not just do it now? He obviously deserves it.”
Officially speaking: The Spurs received their annual preseason briefing from league referees after their morning practice at the AT&T Center.
Steve Javie, one of the NBA's top referees and the crew chief at Tuesday's game, spoke to the players and coaches about plays and calls the officials have been instructed to emphasize this season, including an ongoing crackdown on traveling.
Another emphasis: More leeway for big men to defend smaller players who drive to the basket.
“They were talking about some stuff about the bigs not getting so many (foul) calls in the paint when we smalls drive into them,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who has benefited from his share of foul calls when driving to the basket.
Easy path to championship? The Mavericks smarted all summer after being ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, who turned out to be the hottest of the NBA's low-seeded playoff teams.
What did the Mavs think of the Spurs' path to the 2007 NBA title.
“They had, as we would see it, an easy road,” swingman Jerry Stackhouse said. “Really, their main threat was Phoenix, who imploded and messed up their chances.
“But, hey, take nothing away from them. You've still got to go win it, and they did that.”