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Pops would make a great US team coach. He will keep a lot of these guys in line, a lot like Coach K.
CG:Certainly qualified, but would he be interested?
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Ailiene Voisin: Spurs' Gregg Popovich should be a slam dunk for next USA Basketball coach
USA Basketball czar Jerry Colangelo doesn't need additional distractions at this point. He's right about that. If this NBA injury epidemic continues, his Olympic team will limp into the 2012 London Games with members of its medical squad afforded superstar status.
LaMarcus Aldridge. Dwight Howard. Derrick Rose. Chauncey Billups. All are ailing and unavailable. Now Chris Bosh has a strained abdomen, which diminishes the Miami Heat's prospects for an NBA championship and makes his presence in London questionable.
What is irrefutable is that Mike Krzyzewski returns as coach, but as he announced Monday, he does so for a final time. After a seven-year tenure that includes gold medals in the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship – and probably another in the upcoming Games – the legendary Duke coach wants to devote his time and energy to his college program.
That means two things: First, the conversation about his successor has started, and second, the conversation about his successor already should have ended.
Taking nothing away from Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and others within the college and NBA ranks, choosing the next national team coach should be the easiest decision in Colangelo's tenure.
Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.
If not quite a mulligan – and only because Krzyzewski did an absolutely marvelous job after an initial burp in the 2006 FIBA World Championship – Colangelo and members of USA's selection committee should be pounding on Popovich's door and demanding a follow-up visit.
Popovich, who was runner-up for the position after George Karl and Larry Brown faltered in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and 2004 Athens Games, respectively, is to the NBA what Krzyzewski is to the NCAA: the premier coach.
Back in 2005, Popovich had guided the Spurs to three NBA championships. He now has four, with a reasonable chance at a fifth. But it's other aspects of his portfolio that distinguish him from other potential candidates, including his unique international experience. After earning a degree in Soviet studies at the Air Force Academy, he served five years of active duty, mostly working intelligence along the Russian border. Don't bother asking for details, though; his lips are sealed.
The two-time NBA Coach of the Year will tell you, however, that he captained the U.S. Armed Forces team that toured Eastern Europe in 1972, and that the relationships he developed overseas have proven invaluable during his years as an NBA assistant and, more importantly, during his 16 seasons as the Spurs' coach and eight as general manager.
"If you recall, Mike and Pop were my two choices in 2005," Colangelo said in a phone interview. "When I talked to Coach K, he almost jumped through the phone. I didn't sense that same enthusiasm in my conversation with 'Pop.' Afterward, he sent me a letter and said I misinterpreted what he said. He felt I had misjudged him, and maybe I did. But that was a long time ago. How can anyone argue with his record, his performance? With him as a great coach?"
While the topic remains a sore spot with the Spurs, Colangelo is as good at maintaining and repairing relationships as anybody in the business.
Disagreements are forgotten and perceived slights forgiven. If he wants Popovich, he'll get Popovich. Any lingering tension between the two – real or imagined – adds intrigue, but it won't dictate who takes over the national team.
But will USA Basketball stick with a college coach? In light of the flood of injuries in the NBA this season, does Commissioner David Stern press for an age restriction on players – say 25-and-younger – and greater consideration to college stars? And if so, is a college or NBA coach best suited to oversee the national program?
Here again, Popovich fulfills all the criteria. He has the complete game. He has coached in college, won with David Robinson and Tim Duncan, won with Duncan and two guards from overseas (Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker). He wins with misfits (Stephen Jackson), trades them away, brings them back, and wins with them again (Stephen Jackson). He wins with rookies (Kawhi Leonard) and with role players, while changing tempo and pacing, but invariably excelling at defense and teamwork.
"The rules can change," Colangelo said. "You have to be able to adapt. Coach K came in and we changed the infrastructure, the culture, the program. After London, we'll sit down and look at everything. Pop would certainly be a leading candidate if it's going to be a pro coach."
Pops would make a great US team coach. He will keep a lot of these guys in line, a lot like Coach K.
hes not going to want to do that in 4 years
Pop has hinted that maybe the end of the Duncan era isn't the end of the Popovich as coach era.
I could see, though, a situation in which Pop has stepped aside as coach of the Spurs but is serving full-time as the Team USA coach.
Doubtful he agrees. I read lots of bad blood articles about him and Collangelo b4...
Hm..Colangelo and Pop hasn't had the best relationship in the last couple of years, we'll see thoug, Pop would be a good fit.
I could see Colangalo stepping down and Pop stepping in. Especially because I think Pop will retire within 2-3 years. He will need something to do.
would love to see pop coach all the divas they bring in to these teams
something hes never really had to do since he targets specific people for the spurs
i rmember when he was coaching the all star game last year
they let lebron drive straight down the lane and everyone did their best richard jefferson impersonations diving out of the way
popovich immediately called a timeout to yell at them to play some d
this is at an all star game
duncan had to tell him to sit down
Hopefully Pop gets the job. I know he'd love to win a gold medal.
There's a lot of preparation that goes on in the offseason. Could Pop (or any NBA coach) take on the job of coaching Team USA without at least a little slippage in his normal NBA efforts?
I'm being serious, and not just asking a rhetorical question. It seems to me the best coaches, including guys like Belichick, live and breathe team business. And it also seems like that's not coincidence. I suspect Pop would do the same with Team USA. Is there really any way to do both?
I'm sure he would love a gold medal. I'd like to see it, too.
That's why I say that one way this would make a lot of sense is for Pop to assume Team USA's helm after he's decided to step away from coaching the Spurs. It would seem to be an ideal solution; it gives Team USA a credible coach without asking anyone to do a half-assed job of it.
most of the players are probably too stupid to understand his system..
the wins >> flashy dunks philosophy won't register well
Good question and I do think it would cause some slippage. That's why I was happy as a Spurs fan when Colangelo passed over Pop back in 2005.
However, since I think this season is the last chance to win a ring with this core, it doesn't concern me that slippage may occur, tbvh.
I think Pop would be a terrible choice to coach a team of big ego all-stars. The Spurs work because everyone swallows their ego and plays their part in Pops complex system. Throwing a bunch of superstars together a few months before the Olympics is the exact opposite of what has made Pop so successful.
I want pop to get the job so he can talk to other players and try to get them to get to sa
This is true. I'd bet Colangelo would want to go with Doc Rivers or even Jim Boeheim before Pop.
Why do you think this is the end of the window? Let's say things break the right way and we're able to win out this year. Then in the offseason, Leonard makes a big second year leap, Tony kicks Boris's ass to keep him conditioned and Boris builds an even better understanding of the schemes, Danny Green keeps improving his defense into the "legit NBA stopper" realm, etc. After leading the team to their first le with him as a legit team leader, Tony spends the year as an MVP candidate so obvious that even ESPN can't ignore him. None of those things seem like wild optimism, at least to me.
Meanwhile, of course, Tim, Manu, and Jack get a year closer to retirement, and we never know when injuries will derail everything.
I could see why you think winning another le would be a tough slog that would require some breaks -- they always are, and they always do. But why do you think it's off the table?
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