It was so crazy—a lot of my people don’t even know this. From family, friends, and the penitentiary… Pop didn’t want me to go to Seattle. When I first got drafted, I wouldn’t go to Seattle. And that was a man who cared about me. That was a man who wanted me to reach my full potential in life first—then as a basketball player. He’s so real. He tried to move my mom to San Antonio with his own money after she got shot. My mom was shot in the leg my rookie year. He called her himself—without me knowing until after the fact. ‘We want to move you here. No—not with his money, with my money.’ That sounds like a dude that cares about me and loves me, right?
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Pop is the GOAT for so many reasons, man. Gonna miss that dude in the league.
Goat coach but an even better person
The NBA needs more Coaches/Execs like Pop.
The fucking goat
There’s a reason why most of his players love him and would run through a wall for him
Stories like this warm my heart man, love Pop for the love he shows.
Holy shit pop is so awesome holy fuck
Mike illitch did something like this for Rosa parks. Some great people
That’s my Jefe!
That’s the kind of rich I want to be. To effortlessly, without question, try to do right by others.
Sidenote – I’d also be eating truffles on the reg let’s be real
I could’ve sworn there was a different interview after Dejounte left the Spurs where he said he didn’t get along with Pop?
Pop just seems like a solid ass dude
Nuggets fans compare him to Michael Malone a lot, but Malone will never be Pop the GOAT.
Smh.
Anyone have the timestamp?
Further proof – even if we didn’t need it – that Coach Pop is a fantastic human being.
What a great man Pop is
My actual GOAT. I know Phil has 11 rings but he ran essentially the same system and showed he can’t adjust as the Knicks GM. Pop spent decades changing his philosophy to fit with his players and actually developed talent.
I read stuff about that man and just get all teary eyed. Let’s all try to be like him. Just a little bit.
That’s not just coaching—that’s real-life compassion. Much respect.
Coach Pop is such a real Papa
We’re not going to leave Dejounte’s mother recovering out of state!
That’s not who we are!
I wish pop got a retirement tour like he deserves. I know it’s not his style but the man is a living legend and deserves his flowers.
Pop is one of the best human beings to ever be involved with the NBA, we all could stand to be a little more like Pop
Murray has said so many good things abot poo
Pop is a legend. Never going to be a head coch like him again.
The longest tenured head coach record he holds will never be broken.
We’ll miss you when you’re gone, Pop!
I love how Pop keeps those relationships strong well after a player has left San Antonio or even out of the league entirely. He cares about the person and not just for what they can do for him. Plus he’s been a huge advocate for expanding the role of women as executives and coaches in pro sports.
38:11 is the timer for those wondering
around 36:30 is the time stamp for the Pop segment.
Pop for president!
what’s the time stamp on the video?
edit: Pop stuff starts around 36:15
These are the kind of stories that remind me that you can do both. You can be a kind, caring, generous person and you can win a fuck ton of basketball games. Too many times we see these are mutually exclusive and I think it’s a problem. Success doesn’t have to come at the expense of humanity. In fact, I think that one leads to the other. I think the success in San Antonio has come about not despite Pop (and co) emphasis on human development but because of it.
ESPN tomorrow: does Pop breaking salary cap rules tarnish his legacy? Here’s a couple of idiots yelling back and forth about it for 10 minutes!
This is a guy that was an officer in the military before and clearly learn to be not only a great leader but a better person to those he led. Pop has always been a real one with people around especially players.
“That was a man who wanted me to reach my full potential in life first, then as a basketball player.” I think that’s a quote that explains who and why so many players love Pop.
Pop is one of those people that if you dislike him that’s a reflection of your character. He’s a special human being and if we had more of him this world would be so much better off.
Can we get him a statue before he passes away? That man has done more for San Antonio than any other star or any other person in that organization.
He is such a good human being and should be celebrated in life not after his death.
Pop is the GOAT.
Does shit like this, served his country, most wins at the highest level, and destroyed Orange Fatty the traitor every single time Pop was asked about politics.
This is why Pop is more than just a coach — he’s a life mentor.
He’s always prioritized the person before the player.
Trying to move DJ’s mom out of danger with his own money, quietly and without credit, shows what kind of man he really is.
You can’t teach that kind of integrity. That’s real love and leadership. 🖤
There are a lot of stories like this from his previous players, but there are also plenty of stories like this from people around San Antonio.
I have a personal story where my family was going to a restaurant for my grandparents anniversary. I was pulling up to the restaurant and see my grandmother talking to coach pop, randomly at the doorsteps of the restaurant (he was holding the door open for my grandparents). She wasn’t into basketball so wasn’t fully aware of who she was talking to. Im partially flipping out in my head (I’m a huge spurs fan since I was a kid watching David Robinson) while finding a parking spot to get in quickly. I get in and find our table, but off in the distance is a semi-private alcove table with Pop and his group. My grandmother was talking him up about how nice and friendly he was, turned out they were out there for a few minutes chatting it up. Pops group was leaving while we were still at our table and sure enough Coach Pop comes up to our table and gave a pretty incredible congratulatory speech for my grandparents. It was short and simple and ended with him offering a bottle of wine he selected. In totality, he spent 5 minutes of his time but made a memorable moment for our family and especially my grandparents.
He is a legend
They are going to name something in this f- ing town after Pop or there will be riots in the streets. I will be leading the column.