Pop knows best

[Spursman]

By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
June 24, 2005

By winning a third NBA championship, Gregg Popovich elevated himself into the upper echelon of the league's all-time coaching ranks. He is just one of five coaches to have won three les, and that almost certainly will guarantee him a spot in the Hall of Fame someday.

But the beauty of Popovich, as his players know, is that individual accolades mean nothing to him. While he someday will be proud to have his name etched on a plaque in Springfield, he truly cares about one thing and one thing only – that his teams play hard and play together, or as his mentor Larry Brown would put it, that they "play the right way."

That is the secret to Pop's success – his single-mindedness when it comes to handling his team. One of Popovich's mottos for his players is "get over yourself." In a league filled with egos and agendas, the San Antonio Spurs' coach has convinced his club to set aside all else in its pursuit of excellence.

And he's able to do so because he practices what he preaches. He doesn't preen and pose on the sidelines. He doesn't wear Armani. He doesn't do commercials on television. He simply comes to work each day, prepares his team to win and refuses to take credit when they do.

In short, he has gotten over himself.

When he won the league's Coach of the Year Award in 2003, he almost had to be dragged to halfcourt before a game to receive his trophy. And when the Spurs finally beat the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 Thursday, Popovich somberly walked to halfcourt to greet Brown, virtually in tears as he thanked him for his tutelage.

Of course, Pop has been blessed. He has built an organization upon the foundation of David Robinson and Tim Duncan, two of the NBA's classiest players. Popovich's brutally honest style works because Robinson and Duncan have allowed it to work. Every Spurs player that has come through the system has witnessed Popovich yelling at the future Hall of Famers just as loudly as he would yell at the 12th man. And because Robinson and Duncan accepted it as constructive criticism, every other player has fallen in line.

His style also works because he blends his disciplinary ways with great humor, generosity and profound respect for his players. Popovich is extremely witty, and he finds a way to make practices both productive and fun with his constant jabs at players, coaches and himself.

His selflessness endears him to his team as well. Pop treats his coaching staff to dinner every night on the road. If a player happens to be in the same restaurant that night, his tab is picked up, too (Danny Ferry and I once asked the hotel concierge where Pop had reservations, then made sure we dined at the same spot before handing him the bill).

Popovich's consistent approach to his job – along with Duncan and the organization's terrific scouting department – has made the Spurs perennial contenders for the championship. San Antonio always seems to be in the mix, and the team's professional approach to the game mirrors that of its coach.

I believe there's something symbolic about the Spurs winning their third le in seven seasons. They haven't win three in a row like the Lakers did. They haven't captured six trophies in eight seasons like the Bulls did. But their methodical success over the years has reflected the no-nonsense style of their coach. The Spurs – and Popovich – are slowly but surely putting their stamp on NBA history.

Just don't count on the team – or the coach – to brag about it.

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[mrcoon29]

His selflessness endears him to his team as well. Pop treats his coaching staff to dinner every night on the road. If a player happens to be in the same restaurant that night, his tab is picked up, too (Danny Ferry and I once asked the hotel concierge where Pop had reservations, then made sure we dined at the same spot before handing him the bill).

I would take advantage a time or two, also!