SI.com: Weekly Countdown: Pop's influence

[CGD]

Great find. In many ways I think the "success" or "failure" of this year will be right up there in terms of judging Pop's long-term legacy.

[duncan228]

Weekly Countdown
Ian Thomsen
SI.com

Loved your piece on Gregg Popovich, who I've long thought was criminally overlooked as one of the game's best coaches. Of the coaches who don't have multiple rings (and Jerry Sloan), who do you think has a chance to join Pop's class? For the common fans, what are the telltale signs of a great coach, or one who can be?
Nate, Brooklyn, N.Y.

No one currently in the NBA will mimic Popovich's influence, because he is a coach with total control of his organization. That is why he has been responsible for placing successful coaches and GMs with other franchises around the league.

All of the great coaches in the NBA have great players, that's the first requirement. Then they're able to earn and maintain the respect of those players by helping them win. Few coaches receive the opportunity to coach those players, and fewer are able to make it work.