In the late 1980s, Gregg Popovich, then an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, began scouting for players in Europe. It was an unusual approach. Back then, much of the National Basketball Association viewed European players as soft and inferior.
Popovich, who retired from coaching this week, was more open-minded. From his perch with the Spurs, he pioneered overseas NBA scouting and built rosters from a global talent pool. Along the way, he accumulated the league’s all-time win record and a remarkable five championships.