Pop's tree bears fruit
By Bryan Chu - Express-News
When Cavaliers coach Mike Brown needs advice, he turns to one person: Gregg Popovich.
“He's not even in my locker room,” said Brown, who was an assistant under Popovich from 2000-03. “I called him a couple times last year when I had a situation in the locker room that had the potential of blowing up.”
This season, the advice-seeking phone calls are growing for Popovich, now in his 13th season as the Spurs head coach, as his coaching and front-office genealogy continues to grow branches in the NBA.
The list includes Brown, Terry Porter and Vinny Del Negro as head coaches, and Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry as general managers.
Popovich did not want to be quoted for this article. He doesn't want the attention. Former players and assistant coaches, however, have all said Popovich has been influential in advancing their careers.
“He's probably got the biggest family tree of any coach out there (in the NBA),” said Phoenix's Kerr, who won two championships playing for Popovich. “A lot of people want to copy and match the Spurs' blueprint, and a lot of us are fortunate to be former Spurs so we get that respect.”
Added Porter, who is in his first season as the Suns coach: “He gets guys who understand the game and who make sacrifices. He's done a tremendous job educating guys, and now they've gone on to have key roles in other franchises.”
Custodian or vice president, marquee player or bench warmer, Popovich treats everyone equally and holds them accountable, a motto Brown, who was on the Spurs' coaching staff during the 2002-03 championship season, has followed.
As an assistant, Brown remembers a staff meeting before the trade deadline when Popovich asked each person in the room to assess a player. Even the assistant video coordinator got his turn.
“I thought, ‘What the heck? I couldn't talk at any meetings when I was in that kind of position,'” Brown said. “He'll have everyone a part of the deal. That's why many people fail at this level or don't last at this level of the organization. Pop has that unique trait.”
Brown added: “He's like the Pied Piper. He can lead me anywhere, and I'd be the first to follow.”
Porter received some advice from Popovich in his final season, which was with the Spurs.
“It's important believing in what you are doing, because there's going to be more non-believers than believers,” said Porter of what Popovich told him.
Added Chicago's Del Negro: “Pop has a tremendous conviction to play the game the right way. Making players understand this is your role, this is how things are going to work. Being around that environment was invaluable.”
Holding players accountable during the offseason, practice and on the defensive side have been things Avery Johnson, who played under Popovich for five seasons, implemented while he was coaching the Mavericks.
“Basically, he cusses you out the whole practice,” Johnson said, “and buys you dinner on the road the next week.”
It's that player-coach relationship that former Spur Brent Barry said he hopes he'll have if he decides to jump into the coaching ranks.
“I think he's the best coach (at knowing) when to push buttons, when to give you a hug,” Barry said. “He has the best pulse of any coach I've ever had.”
This season the Spurs were able to keep their heads above water and are now 11-8.
Kerr, 43, remembers the 1998-99 season when the Spurs limped to a 6-8 start.
“People were talking about firing him,” said Kerr of Popovich. “I remember he never wavered in what he believed in and never let on he felt pressure on the job. We caught fire and we went on to win championships, and the rest is history.”
POP'S TREE
Here is a look at some coaches and front-office men who worked under Gregg Popovich while he’s been the Spurs’ coach. Popovich took over as coach in Dec. 1996.
General managers
Danny Ferry, Cavaliers: Director of basketball operations 2003-05, player 2000-03
Steve Kerr, Suns: Player 1998-2001, 2002-03
Sam Presti, Thunder: Intern, basketball specialist, assistant director of scouting, director of player personnel and assistant general manager, 2000-07
Assistant general manager
Lance Blanks, Cavaliers: Scout, director of scouting, 2000-05
Head coaches
Terry Porter, Suns: Player 1999-2002
Mike Brown (right), Cavaliers: Assistant coach 2000-2003
Vinny Del Negro, Bulls: Player 1996-98
Assistant coaches
Paul Pressey, Thunder: Assistant coach, 1996-2000
Hank Egan, Cavaliers: Assistant coach, 1996-2002
Former coaches
Avery Johnson, Mavericks: Player, 1996-2001
P.J. Carlesimo,.Sonics/Thunder: Assistant coach, 2002-07
Last edited by duncan228; 12-08-2008 at 12:04 AM.
Do you think that people that are seeking high profile jobs in other organizations are held in higher regard if they were under Pop's tutelage at some point? Does it make the person doing the hiring more willing to give the applicant a shot? It seems to me that previously being under the guidance of Pop had an impact on the Del Negro and Kerr hiring, because otherwise I fail to see how they would have gotten those jobs.
We're gonna miss Pop. I wonder if Holt has ever asked him "Is there any player in the NBA whom you might consider staying on to coach after Duncan's gone?" Make plans to get him, whoever he is.
Failing that, have Parker practice his sad puppy face.
No love for Mario Elie or Monty Williams?
Brown added: “He's like the Pied Piper. He can lead me anywhere, and I'd be the first to follow.”Ah, hey Mike, this is Pop. Listen, we've got some expiring contracts coming off the books over the next two years, and we really need a new small forward to take over for Bowen. Tell you what, I'll send you Thomas, Oberto, Finley, Vaughn, Udoka, and the rights to Sanikidize and a couple of bottles of wine. Send that LeBron guy on down here, would ya?
I wonder if this is the cause why we can't repeat?
LOL
i thought this is going to be a story about some vineyard.
Paul Pressey, ugh. Gawd that dude sucked in Spurs uniform.
Don't forget the former coach of Dallas, Avery Johnson. And I think Tim will be a great coach after retire.
I don't see TD as a coach afterhe hangs up his sneakers.. I see him lying on a beach somewhere contemplating the setting sun with Pop by his side...
It sounds written like thatI don't see TD as a coach afterhe hangs up his sneakers.. I see him lying on a beach somewhere contemplating the setting sun with Pop by his side...
here there's some fodder for another chapter of the timvp vs. whottt Barry to the Rockets saga
Never thought he would speak this highly of him...
Already read it at MYSA.com. Nothing to see here, everyone go inside.
mrspurs, we've addressed this before, to an extent it should be an embarrassment to you by now. SpursTalk is a Forum, a community, but also a central repository and collection of articles - sort of a one-stop, all-things Spurs, Forum. Please get used to it and move on if you have already read the article yourself. You are one, and only one, of thousands traversing here daily.
Pop is the best.
It's great to see all those people that were with him in San Antonio getting jobs all over the place
This thread should be bumped every time some knucklehead starts a fire Pop thread.
Interesting that the thread doesn't mention Kevin Pritchard. Did he not work under Popovich?
Or Joe Prunty?
This would be among the hundreds of threads that demonstrate that the people who really know how to evaluate NBA coaches all believe that Popovich is among the best.
It doesn't matter how many times the people in the know praise Pop -- people who know far, far less about winning in the NBA will sit at their computers and castigate Popovich as a know-nothing snake oil salesman because his team doesn't go 75-7 every year and because his teams have lost playoff series to some really good basketball teams during Pop's tenure. I mean, it can't mean anything that every single Popovich-coached team since 2001 (and all but 1 since 1997-98) has either won the West or was knocked out by the team that eventually won the West. Really, that can't mean one damned thing.
Yet, he has only won coach of the year once
tsk tsk
Is Pop "Coach of the 21st Century"?
Phil Jackson has 2 NBA Championships this century, whereas Pop has 3.
Duncan 228 and the rest of the posters made our life easier to post articles about the Spurs we don't have to look elsewhere to save time.
you know what, I'm kind of tired about what your complains. If you've read it before then, LEAVE. Don't post.
You're such a waste of bandwidth.
Last edited by milkyway21; 12-08-2008 at 10:39 PM.
+1Duncan 228 and the rest of the posters made our life easier to post articles about the Spurs we don't have to look elsewhere to save time.
you know what, I'm kind of tired about what your complains. If you've read it before then, LEAVE. Don't post.
You're such a waste of bandwidth
I must admit I'm kind of embarrassed after I pressed the reply button
I think I am a little bit harsh on this one.
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