Popovich Leads Team USA To Gold Medal At 2020 Tokyo Olympics
8/7/2021 10:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former Air Force player and assistant coach Gregg Popovich guided the United States men's basketball team to a Gold Medal finish with its 87-82 victory over France at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Saturday, Aug. 7, 20201, in Saitama, Japan. Popovich was the head coach for Team USA.
"Every championship is special, and the group you're with is special, but I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility I've ever felt," said Popovich, who adds this gold to five NBA titles he's won as coach in San Antonio. "You're playing for so many people that are watching, and for a country, and other countries involved. The responsibility was awesome. I felt it every day for several years now. I'm feeling pretty light now and looking forward to getting back to the hotel."
Popovich, the longest tenured coach with the same team among the 122 NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB franchises, is one of five coaches in history with at least five NBA Championships (along with Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, John Kundla and Pat Riley). He is also the third winningest coach in NBA history and first among active coaches.
A 1970 graduate of the Academy, Popovich led the Falcons in scoring as a senior with a 14.3 average and served as team captain while helping the team to a 12-12 record. He graduated with a degree in Soviet studies, followed by a five-year military commitment in the United States Air Force.
In 1973, he made his first foray into coaching, spending six years as an assistant at the Academy, then spent eight seasons as the head coach of Pomona-Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. He joined Larry Brown's staff as an assistant for the Spurs in 1988.
After a two-year stint coaching with Don Nelson at Golden State, Popovich returned to the Spurs as general manager in 1994. He added head coaching to his long list of responsibilities on Dec. 10, 1996, when he replaced Bob Hill on the Spurs' sideline.
Popovich, a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, had led the Spurs to the NBA championship in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Quote obtained by Associated Press.
"Every championship is special, and the group you're with is special, but I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility I've ever felt," said Popovich, who adds this gold to five NBA titles he's won as coach in San Antonio. "You're playing for so many people that are watching, and for a country, and other countries involved. The responsibility was awesome. I felt it every day for several years now. I'm feeling pretty light now and looking forward to getting back to the hotel."
Popovich, the longest tenured coach with the same team among the 122 NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB franchises, is one of five coaches in history with at least five NBA Championships (along with Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, John Kundla and Pat Riley). He is also the third winningest coach in NBA history and first among active coaches.
A 1970 graduate of the Academy, Popovich led the Falcons in scoring as a senior with a 14.3 average and served as team captain while helping the team to a 12-12 record. He graduated with a degree in Soviet studies, followed by a five-year military commitment in the United States Air Force.
In 1973, he made his first foray into coaching, spending six years as an assistant at the Academy, then spent eight seasons as the head coach of Pomona-Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. He joined Larry Brown's staff as an assistant for the Spurs in 1988.
After a two-year stint coaching with Don Nelson at Golden State, Popovich returned to the Spurs as general manager in 1994. He added head coaching to his long list of responsibilities on Dec. 10, 1996, when he replaced Bob Hill on the Spurs' sideline.
Popovich, a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, had led the Spurs to the NBA championship in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Quote obtained by Associated Press.
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