It’s fun seeing Pop like this. But I still feel bad seeing him coaching. Because he planned to retire after his 6 year contract but the death of his wife changed it. Looks like he got nothing else to do now but to continue coaching.
I see it much more positively than that, he loves coaching and it was likely his wife who wanted him home more often. It’s likely he didn’t want to retire in the first place. He’s had a massive impact on the lives of a bunch of young men, he clearly loves what he does, and he’s beloved by San Antonio and the basketball community
The same year I lost my son, I was committed to coaching an ultimate frisbee program. So I still went to tournaments and tried to do my job as a coach, but I admit it was weird. I found myself like really really caring about my players. Like an insane amount. And I became the guy who was just always optimizing. Other people would call lines, talk logistics and overarching strategy. I just kinda hugged people when they were sad, stood up for them if other teams got chippy, just made sure no one ever felt down. Made sure they always felt heard, wanted them to know I was there for them no matter what. Just trying to be an unconditional support system in a way I’d hoped I could’ve been for my son.
So when I watch Pop coaching now, I think I know how he feels a little bit. And let me say, it’s very cathartic to be able to influence young people positively. Grief will eat you apart in the darkness. But when you’re surrounded by your guys and you know that morale is good, and everybody feels supported. It’s not like you forget. But for a moment, you’re happy that you’ve been through so much shit because you feel properly equipped to help them get through anything that comes their way.
The way he talks about this team though, I think he loves it. He’s talked about how it’s much more teaching than he’s had to do in the past with his veteran-led teams. With them it was all tactical coaching cause they already knew what to do, but with the young guys he’s getting to mold them into his vision of what they can be (i.e. he obviously sees Sochan as a Draymond Green-type hence him starting at PG last season just to get some reps as a primary playmaker).
Cleary the goal is build up like Boston has; get a bunch of guys all roughly the same age and let them hit their primes together with years of chemistry already.
If the Spurs kept winning or going deep into the playoffs after the 3 retired, he probably would’ve. He was getting bored with it but with all the new guys and youth movement, he’s had more fun in years with teaching. Plus, Wemby.
In a kind of twisted way, it’s beautiful. It’s tragic that he lost his wife but it’s beautiful that he enjoys his job so much and being around these young guys all day probably keeps him young and in good spirits. It’s always good to see Pop.
I wish he just had an Anthony Bourdain/NBA legends style show, where he travels the globe with retired NBA icons, and we learn about new places and old memories.
…isn’t Bourdain traveling one of the key reasons he got more depressed that eventually led to suicide? Don’t wish that on Pop- he can retire and travel in peace/anonymity
It contributed but he also had a lot of issues. He was dating someone who ended up cheating on him and he was obsessive about her. He seemed to get obsessive about a lot of things.
First it was drugs and alcohol, and cooking. Later it was jiu-jitsu
I think it was hard for him to ever just feel ok, he needed something to obsess over.
Idea sounds nicer than it would be. Constant travel takes a toll on the body. Specially when it has to meet Shooting deadlines for a show. Pops old man, all we can do is be happy he’s with us, he’s more than paid his dues. If he wants his last couple of years to be coaching and doing what he knows and loves, let him.
It’s fun seeing Pop like this. But I still feel bad seeing him coaching. Because he planned to retire after his 6 year contract but the death of his wife changed it. Looks like he got nothing else to do now but to continue coaching.
I see it much more positively than that, he loves coaching and it was likely his wife who wanted him home more often. It’s likely he didn’t want to retire in the first place. He’s had a massive impact on the lives of a bunch of young men, he clearly loves what he does, and he’s beloved by San Antonio and the basketball community
The same year I lost my son, I was committed to coaching an ultimate frisbee program. So I still went to tournaments and tried to do my job as a coach, but I admit it was weird. I found myself like really really caring about my players. Like an insane amount. And I became the guy who was just always optimizing. Other people would call lines, talk logistics and overarching strategy. I just kinda hugged people when they were sad, stood up for them if other teams got chippy, just made sure no one ever felt down. Made sure they always felt heard, wanted them to know I was there for them no matter what. Just trying to be an unconditional support system in a way I’d hoped I could’ve been for my son.
So when I watch Pop coaching now, I think I know how he feels a little bit. And let me say, it’s very cathartic to be able to influence young people positively. Grief will eat you apart in the darkness. But when you’re surrounded by your guys and you know that morale is good, and everybody feels supported. It’s not like you forget. But for a moment, you’re happy that you’ve been through so much shit because you feel properly equipped to help them get through anything that comes their way.
It’s a bittersweet experience.
Thx for sharing your story. Wishing you all the best! 🙏
The way he talks about this team though, I think he loves it. He’s talked about how it’s much more teaching than he’s had to do in the past with his veteran-led teams. With them it was all tactical coaching cause they already knew what to do, but with the young guys he’s getting to mold them into his vision of what they can be (i.e. he obviously sees Sochan as a Draymond Green-type hence him starting at PG last season just to get some reps as a primary playmaker).
Cleary the goal is build up like Boston has; get a bunch of guys all roughly the same age and let them hit their primes together with years of chemistry already.
He does. It’s a lot different from the Big 3 days. These young guys listen and eat it up. And there’s a new challenge that Pop never really had.
If the Spurs kept winning or going deep into the playoffs after the 3 retired, he probably would’ve. He was getting bored with it but with all the new guys and youth movement, he’s had more fun in years with teaching. Plus, Wemby.
Yeah. But thats life unfortunately. Sometimes you lose your motivation to live and you gotta find new ones.
Sad truth that tragedy will befall us all. The response to hard times is what defines us.
He seems a lot more happy coaching now than he did in his prime
I guess also because of low expectations. Maybe in a few years, people start expecting them to go far in the playoff.
There will be more expectations as wins continue, but it is still different in the sense he’s already done it all, essentially.
He’s actually said coaching the young guys have the past few years has been among the most enjoyable time of his coaching career.
Nothing else to do?
Mentoring kids into adulthoods who are under extreme pressure and wealth is an amazing purpose for a guy like Pop.
In a kind of twisted way, it’s beautiful. It’s tragic that he lost his wife but it’s beautiful that he enjoys his job so much and being around these young guys all day probably keeps him young and in good spirits. It’s always good to see Pop.
I wish he just had an Anthony Bourdain/NBA legends style show, where he travels the globe with retired NBA icons, and we learn about new places and old memories.
…isn’t Bourdain traveling one of the key reasons he got more depressed that eventually led to suicide? Don’t wish that on Pop- he can retire and travel in peace/anonymity
It contributed but he also had a lot of issues. He was dating someone who ended up cheating on him and he was obsessive about her. He seemed to get obsessive about a lot of things.
First it was drugs and alcohol, and cooking. Later it was jiu-jitsu
I think it was hard for him to ever just feel ok, he needed something to obsess over.
Idea sounds nicer than it would be. Constant travel takes a toll on the body. Specially when it has to meet Shooting deadlines for a show. Pops old man, all we can do is be happy he’s with us, he’s more than paid his dues. If he wants his last couple of years to be coaching and doing what he knows and loves, let him.
This is an amazing idea. I would definitely watch that.