"To Tim Duncan": A toast reflects the philosophy of success in Popovich s legendary career

(Original text was published on May 3, and the author is JasonQuick from TheAthletic website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's opinion)

Whenever Popovich's dining table is filled with wine, everyone here will wait for the Spurs head coach toast to speak before sipping.

No matter what occasion, no matter who the guests are, his toast will always be the same.

"When we get into the seat, he will pour wine first and then say that...every time is no exception." Warriors head coach Cole recalled that the disciple who had worked under Popovich and worked with him added:

"To Tim Duncan."

This toast not only pays tribute to the Hall of Fame insider who helped Popovich win the five championships with the Spurs, but also reflects the humble and low-key character of the old coach who coached the Spurs for 29 years. It is these traits that have won the love of countless players and coaches. With the Spurs officially announcing that 76-year-old Popovich has stepped down as head coach and transferred to the team president, this legendary era has finally come to an end.

Popovich stepped down with a coaching record of 1,422 wins and 869 losses (win rate 62.1%), becoming the head coach with the most winning games in NBA history. His 170 playoff wins ranked third in history, behind Phil Jackson and Pat Riley. The legend, who won the NBA coach of the year three times, has maintained a winning rate of more than half for 22 consecutive seasons, which is the longest record in the league history.

As a graduate of the Air Force Academy, Popovich realized his coaching dream and led the US men's basketball team to successfully win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (actually held in 2021). His brilliant career has always been based on the simplest cornerstone: sincerity, communication, care and responsibility.

"Popovich is an epoch-making leader." Heat head coach Spoelstra, who once served as assistant coach for the American men's basketball team, commented.

At the Spurs, Popovich forged a team culture that emphasizes responsibility and team-first by ruthlessly urging players, and even treated superstars like David Robinson and Duncan equally. The players said that his fierce and straightforward management work was because he also showed firm care for the players.

"Players believe that Popovich cares about them, a living person, is far more important than their value as basketball players." Terry Porter, who has played for Popovich for three seasons, said. "For Popovich, basketball has never been all. He values ​​family, such as your children, your wife, and this value helps build a sense of identity and trust." Industry peers praised Popovich as a trend leader in taking risks and a coach who can constantly adjust his tactical system to adapt to the lineup. In 1999, Popovich's first championship was built on the iron wall built by David Robinson and Duncan's "Two Towers"; while the last championship in 2014 was recorded in history with a dynamic offensive system that opened up space and used precise transmission to play with defenders.

"What makes him extraordinary is that he always keeps pace with the times," said Coach Spoel, who had confronted Popovic in the finals for two consecutive years. "No matter how the league's tactical trend changes, the Spurs are always at the forefront. In the early days, they crushed their opponents with double towers and controlled the game with defense; when the three-point line began to play a greater role, they developed a system of passing and winning, which was simply the crystallization of basketball wisdom, and such transformations were always smooth."

Popovic's vision often broke the rules and even caused controversy. In 2012, he gave four main players a rest and practiced the strategy now known as "load management" for the first time. At that time, the Spurs were in a intensive schedule of five days and four games, and had just finished their six-game trip. Popovich was quite dissatisfied with the league's arrangement for this national live broadcast. The move angered NBA president David Stern, who fined the Spurs $250,000 for "damaging the interests of the league and fans."

And in the middle of the 2006-07 season, Popovich adjusted All-Star Ginobili from starting to substitute to balance the team's scoring firepower. This decision initially made Ginobili feel disappointed, but when he understood the coach's meaning, he happily accepted the new role. This adjustment not only helped the Spurs win the fourth championship in team history, but also demonstrated Popovich's core concept of "team first".

Whether publicly or privately, Popovich always refuses to take credit. This is reflected from the thousand toasts on the dining table to the perverse attitudes deliberately put forward when facing the media.

"He always takes the lead in declaring that he neither wants to make an autobiography nor accepts personal interviews." Rockets coach Uduka, who once played under Popovich and served as assistant coach, revealed, "He said no one would be interested in his style because it is too basic. But to be honest, this is the charm of Popovich, which simplifies the complex."

Season 1999-2000, Steve Cole's second year of his NBA player career (and his 12th season of his NBA player career), Popovich moved the sharpshooter out of the rotation. In Cole's own words, he was "smoked out of smoke" at the time.

"So I had a few games on purpose on the floor, not on the bench," Cole recalled. "You know, the player's move is a vague protest, which is equivalent to saying 'Go yours.'" Popovich noticed Cole's protest, but at first remained silent. Until a few games later, he pulled Cole aside.

"He said, 'Listen, you're not that kind of person.'" Cole retelled, "'We signed you precisely because we know your personality, your professional attitude and energy are very important to team building. Now this behavior goes against your nature, and I understand you are dissatisfied with rotation arrangements, but you can't do that.'" Cole admitted that his words immediately made him feel ashamed and humbled. From then on, he never sat on the floor again until he retired.

"He was right, I was really making trouble at that time. ” On the night of the game, Stern angrily denounced Popovich's decision as "unacceptable" and warned that "heavy punishment will be given". The next day, the league issued a fine of $250,000 to the Spurs.

Although the Spurs finally lost to the Heat led by James, Bosh and Wade 100-105 (only 1 point behind 13 seconds before the final game), Popovich has reached his demand.

"This is epoch-making significance. Now the league has completely cancelled the schedule of five days and four games. "Kor pointed out that "the source of the reform of schedule optimization was Popovich's protest. ”

That game against the Heat was just the beginning of Popovich protecting aging stars and accumulating the playoffs. He will take off players in an intensive schedule to ensure they stay in their best form in April-June. This strategy does not always work. In the 2017-18 season, Leonard and the Spurs had a different relationship on recovery progress and return timing, which eventually led to the star playing only 9 games, but Popovich always advocated that players must recover fully before they can return to the field.

"Resting is an important part of his coaching philosophy," coach Uduka pointed out, "He really puts the health of players first. I often hear him say that the most proud thing was in the 1999-2000 season. Duncan wanted to play in the playoffs with an injury after a knee injury, but he firmly stopped it. This decision may have allowed Duncan to play for five more years. In an era when "load management" was not popular, he looked at the problem from a long-term perspective and was willing to bear fines and adhere to principles. ”

Now, all teams have generally adopted load management strategies, and the league has even revised the award selection rules for this, stipulating that players must play at least 65 games before they are eligible to participate in the awards.

Ironically, the most famous innovation of tactical master Popovich comes from his most hated area - three-pointers.

For many years, the old coach has always publicly criticized the three-pointer wave, calling it "boring" and "Directions from the essence of basketball." But due to the torrent of the times, he became an innovator of the three-pointer tactics: not only developed the bottom corner three-pointer tactics (Bruce Bowen, Danny Green and Matt Bonner are all beneficiaries), but also pioneered the defensive system for the bottom corner three-pointers.

"He is the real pioneer," Nate McMillan commented. "When data analysis has not yet been prevalent, Popovich ordered Bowen to 'only take action at the bottom corner'. The tactical logic he designed was very simple. If Duncan doubled down, he had to give up three points in the bottom corner. Now the entire league is crazy about it. ”

According to statistics from the BasketballReference website, Bruce Bowen, who regained his rebirth in the Spurs, 84% of his shots were concentrated in the bottom corner during his time, with a shooting rate of 42.4%.

"Popovich is the first coach to emphasize that 'must lock the strong bottom corner'. "Cole said, "The traditional defense will short the bottom corner because it was originally just a two-point area. But when the three-pointer rose, he immediately realized that letting his opponent shoot two points in front of David Robinson or Duncan is much wiser than allowing the bottom corner three-pointer. It can be said that he has completely revolutionized the bottom corner three-pointer defense system. ”

On November 2, 2024, on the eve of Game 6 of the 29th season of his coaching career, Popovich suffered what the Spurs officially called "mild stroke". He then failed to return to the head coaching position throughout the season, and assistant coach Mickey Johnson led the team to a record of 32 wins and 45 losses (total 34 wins and 48 losses).

With this legend, recognized by his peers as "one of the best coaches in NBA history (if not the best)" announced his resignation, the basketball world lost an immortal monument.

"Popovich's success has no secret recipe," said Coach Uduka, "is a sincere relationship and absolute responsibility. It seems simple, but it is the most difficult quality for the world to practice, and he has achieved the ultimate. ”

Popovich's influence will last forever. As his mentor Larry Brown said: Popovich is not cultivating a coaching tree, but a coaching forest. In today's NBA, the active coaches who have played for or served as assistant coaches under him include: Uduka of the Rockets, Cole of the Warriors, Rivers of the Bucks, Hardy of the Jazz, Keefe of the Wizards and Snyder of the Hawks. The well-known coaches who have walked out of his sect include Budenholzer, Monty Williams, Jenkins and Mike Brown.

"I use Popovich's coaching method as the foundation to shape my own coaching philosophy," said Uduka. "You must keep your heart, and Popovich can teach you: either stick to your responsibilities or avoid problems, and there is no intermediate route. ”

And in a certain corner, Popovich will raise his glass again to pay tribute to the disciple who helped him win the championship for five years. This is not pretending to be humble, but rather interpreting the true meaning of sharing weal and woe between the coach and the player.

"After all, this toast reflects Popovich's highly praised humility," Cole interpreted, "He is like saying: All honors are wonderful, but if it were not for the selection of Tim Duncan, these basketball philosophy would not have been crowned at all, and he might have been dismissed long ago, which he always remembers. ”

Original text: JasonQuick

Compiled by: Li Taibai