Gregg Popovich has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs for seemingly forever — ever since the 1996-97 season, to be exact.
The 74-year-old recently agreed to a contract extension to remain the team’s coach for several more years, and this coming season, he will get to coach Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 French phenom who has been described as a generational talent.
Per Tim Bontemps, Lisa Salters asked Popovich why he continues to coach at his advanced age, and he jokingly said it’s all about the Benjamins.
Gregg Popovich, when asked by Lisa Salters what keeps bringing him back after 27 years to coach the Spurs:
“Money. Money, money, money.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 11, 2023
Some would say Popovich has been extremely lucky, as the Spurs had the good fortune of drafting Tim Duncan shortly after he became their head coach, while Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili arrived several years later.
With Duncan as his right-hand man, Popovich guided the Spurs to five NBA championships between 1999 and 2014.
But he has also been an outstanding coach, and he has earned a reputation as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Popovich’s Spurs have won titles in different ways — his first few rings were won by playing slowdown basketball, while his last one was earned with a more free-flowing, high-powered and modern offense.
One of the measures of a great coach is the ability to win it all while employing more than one system or style of play, and that’s exactly what he has done over the years.
This weekend, Popovich will be formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and with Wembanyama incoming, he may be about to add even more to his already impressive resume.
NEXT:
Former Coach Reveals Why Gregg Popovich Refused To Go Into Hall Of Fame