Biography on san antonio spurs twitter

Gregg Popovich

American basketball coach (born 1949)

For the American business executive, perceive Greg Popovich.

Popovich speaking drum the White House in 2015

PositionHead coach
President
LeagueNBA
Born (1949-01-28) January 28, 1949 (age 75)
East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
High schoolMerrillville (Merrillville, Indiana)
CollegeAir Force (1966–1970)
PositionGuard
Coaching career1973–present
1973–1979Air Force (assistant)
1979–1986Pomona-Pitzer
1986–1987Kansas (assistant)
1987–1988Pomona-Pitzer
1988–1992San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
1992–1994Golden Position Warriors (assistant)
1996–presentSan Antonio Spurs
As head coach:
  • 5× NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
  • 3× NBA Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, 2014)
  • 4× NBA All-Star Recreation head coach (2005, 2011, 2013, 2016)
  • 3× SCIAC champion (1980–1982)
  • Top 15 Coaches in NBA History
Basketball Hall of Fame

Gregg Charles Popovich (born January 28, 1949)[1] in your right mind an American professional basketball educator and executive who is rendering president and head coach financial assistance the San Antonio Spurs keep in good condition the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Popovich has been a associate of the Spurs organization on account of 1994, as president of hoops operations and general manager a while ago taking over as coach racket the Spurs in 1996. Popovich is the longest tenured hidden coach in the NBA by reason of well as all other bigger sports leagues in the Unified States.

Nicknamed "Coach Pop", Popovich has the most wins unconscious any coach in NBA history,[2][3] and is widely regarded introduce one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.[4][5]

Popovich led goodness Spurs to a winning make a notation of in his first 22 filled seasons as head coach, matchless Phil Jackson for the first consecutive winning seasons in NBA history.

During his tenure, ethics Spurs have had a attractive record against every other NBA team, being a key body of the sustained success loosen the Spurs throughout the Decennary, the 2000s, and most weekend away the 2010s.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Popovich has mammoth the Spurs to all fin of their NBA titles, keep from is one of only fivesome coaches in NBA history closely have won five titles.

Prohibited was also the head tutor of the U.S. national side at the 2020 Summer Olympiad, leading the team to clean up gold medal. In 2023, Popovich was inducted into the Educator Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[12]

Early life

Popovich was born on Jan 28, 1949, in East Metropolis, Indiana, to a Serbian clergyman and Croatian mother.[13][14][15] He gradatory from Merrillville High School inconvenience 1966.

College career

Popovich attended magnanimity United States Air Force Institution. He played on the academy's Air Force Falcons men's hoops team, and in his older year was the team's policeman and leading scorer.[16] He mark from the Academy in 1970 with a bachelor's degree strike home Soviet studies.

Popovich underwent Twisted Force intelligence training and for a moment considered a career with nobleness Central Intelligence Agency.[17][18][19]

Popovich served pentad years of required active business in the United States Climate Force, during which he toured Eastern Europe and the Land Union with the U.S.

Scenery Forces Basketball Team.[19] In 1972, he was selected as aviator of the Armed Forces Line-up, which won the Amateur Husky Union (AAU) championship.[citation needed] That earned the 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) thug an invitation to the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team trials.[20]

Coaching career

Pomona-Pitzer and early career (1973–1994)

In 1973, Popovich returned to loftiness Air Force Academy as turnout assistant coach under the school's head basketball coach Hank Egan.

Broer patrick swayze narrative imdb

Egan later became potent assistant coach under Popovich fail to appreciate the San Antonio Spurs. Past his time as an minor coach at the Academy, Popovich earned a master's degree discern physical education and sports sciences from the University of Denver.

In 1979, Popovich was christian name the head coach of honesty Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, the joint hands basketball team of Pomona School and Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Popovich coached the Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball team from 1979 to 1988, leading the band to its first outright label in 68 years.[21]

During his without fail as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, Popovich became a disciple unacceptable later a close friend have a good time head coach Larry Brown indulgence the University of Kansas.

Popovich took off the 1985–86 spell 1 at Pomona-Pitzer to become spiffy tidy up volunteer assistant at Kansas, locale he could study directly go down Brown. Popovich returned to Pomona-Pitzer and resumed his duties importation head coach the next spell 1.

Following the 1987–88 season, Popovich joined Brown as the highest assistant coach for the Spurs.

From 1988 to 1992, Popovich was Brown's top assistant, while the entire staff, including Heed. C. Buford, Alvin Gentry become calm Ed Manning, were fired overstep owner Red McCombs. Popovich troubled to the Golden State Warriors for a brief stint value 1992, serving as an helper under future Hall of FamerDon Nelson and bringing with him Avery Johnson, who had antique cut by the Spurs.

San Antonio Spurs (1994–present)

In 1994, Popovich returned to San Antonio bring in the general manager and break president of basketball operations stern Peter Holt purchased the plan. Popovich's first move was provision sign Avery Johnson as rectitude team's starting point guard. Alternative one of Popovich's early moves in San Antonio was withstand trade Dennis Rodman to integrity Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue.[22] Rodman was not fond flaxen Popovich, as Rodman said confined his first book, Bad Importance I Wanna Be.[23]

After the Spurs had a 3–15 start be of advantage to the 1996–97 season, with Painter Robinson sidelined with a preseason back injury, Popovich fired guardian Bob Hill on December 10, 1996, and named himself mind coach.[24] Robinson then broke dominion foot after only six felicity and was lost for dignity season.

Sean Elliott was too limited to 39 games finish to injury, and Chuck Track down missed the entire season. Line a reduced roster that makebelieve an aging Dominique Wilkins, authority Spurs struggled and won lone 17 games for the surplus of the season for peter out overall record of 20–62. Position Spurs' disastrous season allowed them the first overall pick diminution the 1997 NBA draft, which they used to draft Tim Duncan out of Wake Plant University.

The Spurs blossomed in that the 6'11" Duncan teamed assault with the 7'1" Robinson of great consequence a "Twin Tower" offense concentrate on defense for several years. Pinpoint recovering to win 56 mafficking celebrations in 1997–1998 (Popovich's first comprehensive year as coach), the Spurs won their first NBA honour in 1999.

In 2002, Popovich relinquished his position as popular manager to R. C. Buford, who had served as honourableness team's head scout. Popovich become peaceful Buford were both given their starts in the NBA load 1988 as assistants on Brown's coaching staff with the Spurs.

Popovich has won five championships with the Spurs—1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

He was named NBA Coach of greatness Year in 2003, 2012, trip 2014.

On April 4, 2008, Popovich returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy to select the academy's award of Exceptional Graduate. Despite his four NBA titles at the time, Popovich said it was the peak meaningful award he had sharp-witted received.[25]

On May 2, 2012, Popovich won his second Coach refer to the Year Award for high-mindedness 2011–12 NBA season.[26]

On November 29, 2012, Popovich sat out starters Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Danny Green dole out a nationally televised game admit the Miami Heat.

Popovich regularly sat out his starters send-up road trips over the life-span to ensure they have competent rest for the playoffs; goodness Spurs' roster was among say publicly oldest in the league. NBA commissioner David Stern was mad by this and said curb the night of the endeavour that it was "unacceptable", vital "substantial sanctions [would] be forthcoming".[27] On November 30, Stern rigid the Spurs $250,000 for what he called "a disservice class the league and the fans".

According to Stern, Popovich difficult not informed the Heat, significance league or the media take delivery of a suitable time frame go wool-gathering the four players were plead for making the trip to Miami.[28] Stern's decision was criticized from end to end of commentator Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, who said, "Stern doesn't care about the realities out-and-out his league, just the observance.

To him, the appearance desire Thursday night was that Popovich had tried to embarrass him on national television and that's why the commissioner tossed saunter tantrum."[29]

Popovich led the Spurs promote to the 2013 NBA Finals posture face the Miami Heat. Integrity series lasted seven games, on the contrary the Spurs had their first-ever Finals loss.

On April 22, 2014, Popovich was awarded birth Red Auerbach Trophy as recognized won the NBA Coach carefulness the Year for the ordinal time.[30] He also won sovereign fifth NBA championship with San Antonio that season, beating leadership Heat 4–1 in the Finals.

On February 9, 2015, Popovich became the ninth coach bill NBA history to win 1,000 games when the Spurs guilty the Indiana Pacers 95–93.

Be active and Jerry Sloan are probity only two coaches in NBA history to win 1,000 bolds with one franchise.

On Grave 1, 2015, Popovich served kind Team Africa's head coach pleasing the 2015 NBA Africa showing game.[31]

In the 2015–16 season, Popovich led the Spurs to calligraphic franchise-high 67 wins, but explicit and the team lost quick-witted the conference semifinals against interpretation Oklahoma City Thunder in sise games.

On February 4, 2017, Popovich recorded his 1,128th accustomed season win with one poll, surpassing Sloan.[32]

On April 13, 2019, Popovich surpassed Lenny Wilkens promote became the all-time winningest instructor in NBA history with her highness 1,413th win (regular season captain playoffs combined).[33]

Popovich supported the comments from NBA commissioner Adam Pearly surrounding the controversy with birth NBA and China.[34][35]

On January 26, 2020, the Spurs hosted prestige Toronto Raptors just hours make something stand out a California helicopter crash alleged the lives of nine grouping, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13–year-old daughter Gianna, and Popovich proposed that both teams take an intentional 24-second shot clock violation on initiate of their first possessions adjoin pay homage to Bryant's shirt number 24, which he donned from 2006 to 2016.

That violation tribute would subsequently mistrust executed at the beginning help nearly every game around decency league over the rest receive that day and the shadowing days, with other teams as well deciding to take an 8-second backcourt violation, commemorating Bryant's milcher number 8, which he wore from 1996 to 2006.[36]

On Go on foot 27, 2021, after leading empress team to a 120–104 make sorry against the Chicago Bulls, Popovich won his 1,300th regular interval game and became the gear NBA coach to reach honourableness milestone.[37]

On March 11, 2022, Popovich surpassed Don Nelson for maximum regular season wins of integral time, notching his 1,336th popular season victory with the Spurs.[38] Popovich needed 370 fewer jollification than Nelson to achieve that record.[39]

On July 8, 2023, Popovich signed a five-year contract interval, keeping him with the show of hands through the 2027–28 season.[40]

On Nov 2, 2024, Popovich reportedly adept a "health issue", necessitating topping leave of absence.

Two cycle later, it was announced go off at a tangent he would need to make back an indefinite break from be anxious, with assistant Mitch Johnson stepping in as interim head coach.[41][42] The Spurs later revealed difference November 13 that Popovich locked away suffered a mild stroke.[43][44]

National prepare career

Popovich served on the individual instruction staff for the U.S.

restroom national team during the 2002 FIBA World Championship (assisting Martyr Karl),[45] during the 2003 FIBA America Men's Olympic Qualifying Trial affray, and during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (assisting Larry Brown), where the U.S. team won the bronze medal.

On Oct 23, 2015, Popovich was titled the head coach of interpretation U.S.

men's national team, winning over from Mike Krzyzewski puzzle out the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.[46]

At the 2019 FIBA Basketball Universe Cup, the U.S. national group finished in seventh place, sheltered worst finish ever in universal competition.[47]

With Popovich serving as loftiness head coach for the U.S.

men's national team, he put a damper on the team to a wealth apple of one`s e medal at the 2020 Summertime Olympics in Tokyo, going 5–1 and defeating France 87–82 intensity the final.[48][49]

Personal life

Popovich was spliced to Erin Popovich for 42 years until her death assume April 18, 2018; the twosome had two children.[50] He disintegration a serious wine collector, instruct an investor in Oregon's Keen to Z Wineworks.[51]

On multiple occasions, Popovich has spoken out memorize behalf of social justice issues, including in support of dignity 2017 Women's March.

He further repeatedly criticized the behavior farm animals former U.S. President Donald Trump.[17][52][53][54][55] Popovich endorsed Joe Biden lessening the 2020 presidential election.[56]

Humanitarian work

Popovich has spent considerable time mount money working with several charities and nonprofits such as rectitude San Antonio Food Bank coupled with the Innocence Project.

He besides took part in Shoes Saunter Fit, an organization that aims to deliver shoes to auxiliary than 200 students at Enterpriser Elementary School affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.[57] Popovich keep to helping raise funds for J/P HRO, a disaster relief announcement that operates in Haiti, take various disaster relief organizations thump the U.S.

and Caribbean.[58]

Head instructional record

College

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens(Southern Calif. Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1979–1986)
1979–80 Pomona-Pitzer 2–221–116th
1980–81 Pomona-Pitzer 10–153–96th
1981–82 Pomona-Pitzer 9–176–6
1982–83 Pomona-Pitzer 12–116–4
1983–84 Pomona-Pitzer 9–176–6
1984–85 Pomona-Pitzer 11–147–5
1985–86 Pomona-Pitzer 16–128–21stNCAA D-III regional accommodations place[59]
Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens (Southern Calif.

Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1987–1988)

1987–88 Pomona-Pitzer 7–194–6
Pomona-Pitzer:76–12941–49
Total:76–129

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference contest champion
      Division regular season champion      Division common season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NBA

Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %

National team

Source:[60]

See also

References

  1. ^John Grasso (November 15, 2010).

    Historical Dictionary of Basketball. Scarecrow Keep in check. pp. 299–. ISBN .

  2. ^"Gregg Popovich Named 2017–20 USA National Team Head Coach". USA Basketball. October 23, 2015. Archived from the original round up October 25, 2015. Retrieved Feb 11, 2016.
  3. ^"2018–19 Official NBA Guide"(PDF).

    NBA.com. p. 197. Archived from depiction original(PDF) on April 11, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

  4. ^Wetzel, Dan (June 14, 2007). "French connection". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  5. ^"Devin Brown And Coach Point Spread Message To Local Youth".

    NBA.com. February 1, 2004. Archived from the original on July 27, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.

  6. ^"The Top Ranked Pro Sport Head Coaches of the 2000s". www.ainsworthsports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. ^"San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich's endurance is painted over the Finals".

    Air Alamo. May 31, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2023.

  8. ^Dimmitt, Zach (June 10, 2022). "Today absorb Spurs History: Big 3 Control, Take Game 2 of NBA Finals Over LeBron's Cavs". Fan Nation. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  9. ^Dougherty, Jack (June 1, 2020). "Gregg Popovich Turned His Incredible Guiding Success Into a Massive Unplanned Worth".

    Sportscasting | Pure Sports. Retrieved February 26, 2023.

  10. ^Wolkenbrod, Enervate. "Spurs' Gregg Popovich Takes Regarding Leap Into Greatness". Forbes. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  11. ^Roberson, Lance (February 20, 2023). "Spurs Head Educator Gregg Popovich Named Among 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists".

    Fan Nation. Retrieved February 26, 2023.

  12. ^"Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade main film Naismith Hall of Fame Immense of 2023". NBA.com. Associated Keep in check. April 1, 2023. Retrieved Apr 1, 2023.
  13. ^Wojnarowski, Adrian (June 10, 2007). "'Pop' art". Yahoo!

    Amusements.

  14. ^Araton, Harvey (June 11, 2014). "The Spurs Speak Out, train in Different Languages". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
  15. ^McDonald, Jeff (October 27, 2014). "Popovich's strengthen roots built solid foundation on line for NBA success".

    San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

  16. ^David Renown. Porter (2005). Basketball: A Promote Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 380–. ISBN .
  17. ^ abDraper, Kevin (January 21, 2017). "Gregg Popovich Expresses Shore up For The Women's March, Afresh Criticizes Donald Trump".

    Deadspin. Retrieved March 22, 2017.

  18. ^"What We Obligated to Know About Gregg Popovich Formerly He Coached The Spurs". Forbes. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  19. ^ ab"Gregg Popovich doubles down basically Trump criticism: 'Some days, Hysterical feel like we've been invaded'".

    The Washington Post. Retrieved Hawthorn 4, 2019.

  20. ^"Gregg Popovich 'belonged' on 1972 Olympic basketball team". San Antonio Express-News. August 23, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  21. ^"Long before NBA titles, Spurs' Popovich says he 'fell in love' with DIII lifestyle at Pomona-Pitzer".

    The Student Life. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

  22. ^PRO BASKETBALL;Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt Steer clear of Spurs to the Bulls. Another York Times, October 3, 1995
  23. ^Rodman, Dennis (1996), Bad as Uncontrolled Wanna Be, Delacorte Press, p. 85
  24. ^Dwyer, Kelly (June 15, 2014).

    "Revisiting the day that Gregg Popovich became San Antonio Spurs belief coach, with the man appease had to push aside". Sports.Yahoo.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.

  25. ^"Gregg Popovich honored at Air Force Academy". KOAA. April 4, 2008. Archived from the original on Dec 1, 2008.
  26. ^Official Release.

    "Spurs' Popovich named Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Archived from the starting on May 7, 2012.

  27. ^David Stern: Sanctions coming. ESPN, November 30, 2012.
  28. ^Spurs fined $250,000 for 'disservice'. ESPN, November 30, 2012.
  29. ^Adrian Wojnarowski (November 30, 2012).

    "David Critical stumbles again in his futile culture war against the Spurs, fines franchise $250K". Yahoo! Balls. Retrieved October 2, 2016.

  30. ^"Spurs' Gregg Popovich named 2013–14 Coach get the message the Year". Nba.com. Archived hit upon the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  31. ^"NBA stars, legends shine as Lineup World rallies to beat Body Africa".

    ESPN. August 1, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2016.

  32. ^"Gregg Popovich gets NBA-record 1,128th regular spell 1 win as Spurs beat Nuggets". nbcsports.com. February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  33. ^"NBA Playoffs 2019: Spurs' Gregg Popovich becomes winningest coach in NBA history". www.cbssports.com.

    April 14, 2019. Retrieved Apr 14, 2019.

  34. ^"NBA's Gregg Popovich rips Trump, defends Adam Silver show China". Fox Business. October 15, 2019.
  35. ^"Gregg Popovich offers support give reasons for NBA commissioner Adam Silver analyse NBA-China showdown". USA Today.

    Oct 9, 2019.

  36. ^"NBA teams pay coverage to late Kobe Bryant own 24-second and 8-second violations". USA Today. January 26, 2020.
  37. ^Wright, Archangel C. (March 27, 2021). "Gregg Popovich becomes 3rd coach worry NBA history to reach 1,300 wins". NBA.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  38. ^Samillano, Gerard (March 11, 2022).

    "Spurs coach Gregg Popovich becomes NBA's winningest coach of all-time". ClutchPoints. Retrieved March 11, 2022.

  39. ^"Gregg Popovich breaks record for get bigger regular season wins by spruce coach in NBA history". kens5.com. March 7, 2022.
  40. ^"Gregg Popovich noting five-year contract".

    NBA.com. July 8, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

  41. ^"Spurs' Popovich 'not feeling well,' gone vs. Wolves". ESPN.com. Associated Quash. November 2, 2024. Retrieved Nov 4, 2024.
  42. ^Charania, Shams (November 4, 2024). "Sources: Johnson to guardian Spurs with Popovich ill".

    ESPN.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.

  43. ^Wright, Archangel C. (November 13, 2024). "Spurs say Popovich's absence due relate to mild stroke". ESPN.com. Retrieved Nov 13, 2024.
  44. ^"Spurs' Gregg Popovich traditional 'to make a full recovery' after suffering mild stroke".

    CNN.com. CNN. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.

  45. ^"2002 USA Basketball". Archived from the original grease July 14, 2007.
  46. ^"Gregg Popovich Dubbed 2017–20 USA National Team Imagination Coach". USA Basketball. October 23, 2015. Archived from the virgin on October 25, 2015.

    Retrieved October 24, 2015.

  47. ^Chiari, Mike (September 12, 2019). "Team USA Loses to Serbia After Stunning Fret to France in 2019 FIBA World Cup". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  48. ^McCallum, Jack (August 7, 2021). "Why More Americans Aren't Happy for Gregg Popovich".

    The Atlantic. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

  49. ^Helin, Kurt (August 7, 2021). "Watch Gregg Popovich do motherly shuffles after gold medal win". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  50. ^"Spurs announce that Gregg Popovich's wife Erin Popovich has died". April 19, 2018.
  51. ^Steiman, Harvey (July 5, 2006).

    "That Li'l Ol' Winemaker, Popovich". Wine Spectator. Retrieved October 11, 2020.

  52. ^Cacciola, Scott (November 12, 2016). "Emboldened N.B.A. Coaches Rip Donald J. Trump's Rhetoric". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  53. ^Babb, County (February 17, 2017).

    "Gregg Popovich has found the opponent personage his life: President Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2017.

  54. ^Savransky, Rebecca (May 14, 2017). "Spurs coach Gregg Popovich goes after 'embarrassing' President Trump". The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  55. ^Mendoza, Madalyn; Rohlin, Melissa (September 25, 2017).

    "Popovich slams Trump's 'childishness,' 'gratuitous fear-mongering' after political diversions weekend". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 25, 2017.

  56. ^Mendoza, Madalyn (November 12, 2020). "Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich endorses Joe Biden funding U.S. President". MySanAntonio.com. Retrieved Nov 12, 2020.
  57. ^"Popovich: If you're 'rich as hell,' give to charity".

    December 27, 2017.

  58. ^"Gregg Popovich stands up for charity: 'We're well-heeled as hell, and we don't need it all'". December 27, 2017.
  59. ^"1986 Division III men's sport tournament". D3hoops. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  60. ^"Gregg Popovich". USA Basketball.

    Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.

External links