Gregg Popovich became San Antonio's general manager in 1994 and hired himself as head coach to replace Bob Hill in 1996.
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The San Antonio Spurs have been a model franchise since Gregg Popovich took over as their head coach, but eventually, his time with the franchise is going to come to an end. Now, it appears as though that time may be closer than ever. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, there is a “growing belief” around the NBA that Popovich, who just won a gold medal leading Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, will retire after the season.
Former Spurs assistant Will Hardy, now working for another former Spurs assistant Ime Udoka in Boston, is considered among the candidates to replace Popovich. Tim Duncan, who spent a single season as an assistant under Popovich, is not believed to be interested in pursuing a coaching career, according to Fischer’s sources. Another former Spurs legend in Manu Ginobili recently joined the team in a front-office role, but he is not a part of the permanent coaching staff. Becky Hammon will reportedly get a chance to prove she deserves the top job as well.
Gregg Popovich Retirement Rumors Begin To Surface – Hoops Wire https://t.co/fPJrfOvWAZ
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) October 8, 2021
Popovich became San Antonio’s general manager in 1994 and hired himself as head coach to replace Bob Hill in 1996. He landed Tim Duncan in the 1997 lottery soon after and went on to win five championships. Popovich is now the oldest coach in the NBA at 72, and with 1,310 wins, sits only 26 victories behind Don Nelson for the NBA’s all-time record. He is about as accomplished as any coach in the history of professional basketball.
But the last few seasons have been turbulent. Kawhi Leonard was expected to replace Duncan as the face of the franchise in San Antonio, but his relationship with Popovich fractured over the management of an injury throughout the 2017-18 season. Leonard now plays for the Clippers, and DeMar DeRozan, whom the Spurs received in exchange for Leonard, is now a Bull. San Antonio has missed the past two postseasons, and with a very young roster still looking for a new face, they are expected to miss out again this year.
But Pat Riley went 15-67 in his last season as a head coach. Phil Jackson was swept out of the 2011 playoffs. Neither of their legacies has been dampened by poor endings. Popovich is among the very best coaches in NBA history, and no matter when he retires, he will be remembered as such.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has emerged as a favourite to succeed San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich as head coach of the USA Basketball senior men’s national team, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein. Kerr was one of Popovich’s assistants at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Popovich guided Team USA to a fourth consecutive gold medal. The role is one that Kerr has previously expressed interest in.
“Of course I’d be interested,” Kerr said of becoming head coach of Team USA in August, via The Athletic. “I mean, who wouldn’t be? I’ll leave it at that. I have no idea how it will all transpire; there are a lot of great candidates out there. And if I were to be considered, that would be an honor.”
In addition to Kerr, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is another candidate for the position, per Stein. However, Spolestra’s lack of prior experience on the national team coaching staff could work against him. Grant Hill is leading the search after succeeding Jerry Colangelo as USA Basketball executive director.
