Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs’ coach, has won five NBA championships. He is the winningest coach in NBA history, having coached the Silver and Black to a league-record 22 consecutive winning seasons.
Nonetheless, the Hall of Famer claims the 22-60 season was one of his “most satisfying.”
“I wouldn’t be quite honest if I said it wasn’t a difficult year. Losing is difficult. But it was one of the most rewarding years I’ve had here, simply because of the quality of the men I was permitted to teach. “That got us all through.”
A different outlook for Gregg Popovich
Throughout the season, Popovich frequently discussed the team’s inexperience.
“The youth is really something that is a topic that probably needs a lot of attention.”
Looking back at the end of the year, the NBA’s longest-tenured coach viewed his team through that perspective.
“I have to give them tremendous credit for their character. There are no letdowns from backbiting, blaming, or feeling sorry for yourself. They were presented harsh conditions, some of which they had no control over, such as being young and having never played together.
Following a trade deadline deal that sent Doug McDermott to the Indiana Pacers, the Spurs’ roster contained no players above the age of 30.
“It was difficult for them, with inconsistent injuries. It’s as if it never occurred. Every practice, shoot-around, and game, regardless of what transpired, they were prepared for the next day. That really speaks to their character,” Popovich said.
“I really am impressed by that and grateful for it because it could have been a really ugly time, you know, losing, being on buses and planes and all that but we ate together, we spent time together and they were special.”
A franchise-record 18-game losing skid from early November to mid-December charted the path for the Spurs’ season.
“In the beginning of the year, maybe the first 15, 20, 25 games, you start different combinations, different players come off the bench, you play, and then you decide on something else. “Just trying to figure out who plays best in groups,” Popovich said. “It takes time for that and if there’s an injury that happens in the middle of that, it just sets you back even more because you can’t get a good feel, have enough possessions, either offensively or defensively to make a good general statement about what you should be.”
Spurs completed their season on a bright note.
After winning only 17 of 71 games, San Antonio finished the season by winning seven of their final eleven.
“When we were down 10, fifteen, or twenty points, the boys kept playing. They may come back and win, or they may come close. “We never doubted their effort,” Popovich stated.
“I think they put on a fantastic performance for the fans throughout the year, who were also really supportive. I know they have always been, but losing games when you are used to winning games tells a lot about that fan base, that they appreciated what they were watching. And we appreciated their assistance.”
The renowned coach and the Spurs are looking forward to the day when those fans can root for long playoff runs again.
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