“We had guys on the ropes. We had Tony Parker falling in the water” – Gregg Popovich on drill sergeants taking Spurs players through a tough obstacle course originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Due to his military background, San Antonio Spurs legend Gregg Popovich sometimes employed unorthodox methods to keep his players on their toes.
Advertisement
Following their heartbreaking loss in the 2013 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, a defeat that cut deep especially since they had the title in the bag in Game 6 had it not been for LeBron James’ and Ray Allen’s heroics, Popovich knew he had to do something to uplift his team’s morale and help them get ready for the following season.
As training camp began, the players prepared for another tiresome day on the court. However, they were surprised to find out they weren’t heading towards the gym. Instead, the bus took them to Jacks Valley, a sprawling 3,300-acre training facility at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Bonding through a shared difficulty
Losing in the NBA Finals is always crushing for players; to get so close to the Larry O’Brien trophy only to fall short is an experience that can haunt them for the rest of their lives. But Popovich saw this as an opportunity to turn that disappointment into motivation.
Advertisement
“I wasn’t trying to be Mr. Tough, but I wanted to do something to build camaraderie and respect for each other. I wanted the guys to go through something difficult with their teammates,” the legendary coach shared.
As the players expressed surprise and confusion, wondering what they were doing at a military facility, Popovich told his coaches to get off the bus with him and asked them to stay seated.
“We got off the bus and sergeants came on and started raising holy hell. Just like when we were Doolies,” he continued, referring to a term used to describe first-year cadets. “The players’ eyes sprung open and they started to ask questions, but the sergeants yelled back, ‘Are you talking to me?!’ The guys were in shock. They didn’t know whether to start laughing or to say, ‘Hey, Pop, what the hell are you doing?'”
The Spurs went through the obstacle course
While all this was happening, Popovich and his assistant coaches hid behind a tree, witnessing the chaos and confusion. However, the Spurs remained calm and followed instructions.
Advertisement
Finally, the drill sergeant asked them to relax, and that’s when Popovich informed the team of their next task.
“We started laughing and now they’re having a ball. The sergeants issued them all a rifle and gave them a little talk, and they went in twos onto the obstacle course. We had guys on the ropes. We had Tony Parker falling in the water,” he recalled.
“Tim Duncan’s going over every obstacle, and I was scared to death because I envisioned a reporter asking me, ‘When Timmy broke his back falling off the log, what were you thinking? How smart were you to do this?'” Pop continued. “But that’s him. He wanted to do it, and one of his legs doesn’t even work. He still did it, every single deal. That was the greatest thing.”
As odd as that exercise was, it paid off. The Spurs regained their mojo and won the NBA title, avenging their loss to the Heat with a 4-1 win in the 2014 Finals.
Advertisement
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.