He became so synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs that, like a Brazilian soccer star, one name is all you need when we talk about the legend who is finally leaving the Spurs' bench
As a Pomona alum, I had a soft spot for Pop even before he established himself as the greatest coach of his generation in the NBA. He had left before I matriculated, but I learned about him writing a story for my school paper on Coach Kasiafiacas (Coach Kat), Popovich's replacement who was coming off only the 2nd SCIAC championship in Pomona-Pitzer history (the first having been under Pop).
Coach Kat talked about how he learned a lot for Pop, who at the time was working under Larry Brown as an assistant for the Spurs. I remember a few years later hearing form Mike Budenholzer (who was at Pomona the same time I was) about how Popovich was joining my favorite team (Golden State) as an assistant. So even though I never got to meet him (he did briefly visit the campus to give a talk to the team, but I only heard about it later), the fact that he was the coach at my alma mater and then an assistant for my hometown team, cemented me as a fan.
And while my Warriors scuffled over most of the next 15+ years after Pop took over the Spurs, I was a not so closeted fan of the Spurs not just because of the serendipitous connections I had to him, but because they were the team that was often challenging the Lakers for dominance in the aughts (and as a NorCal resident, liking the enemy of our 'enemies' in SoCal came naturally).
Sad to see him have to step away in a way I'm sure was not how he'd have preferred, but he deserves all the flowers he will undoubtedly get for a tremendous career. Respect
Pomona is a small school, so we crossed paths. There were a couple people in my circle who played on the team with Bud (he'll remember Bill Cover, for sure, who was a Bay Area kid, like me), and that's how I got to know him a bit.
The actual conversation where I learned about Pop coaching at Golden State came up because, iirc, he was talking about possibly interning with the Warriors after graduation (he graduated a year before me). I just remember the Warriors coming up, which perked up my ears, and he said Pop was joining their staff. I don't remember if Bud said he had already lined up an internship, or that he might try to see if he could, because of the Pomona connection. But that was how I remember learning that Pop was joining Don Nelson's staff.
Pop is the professional coach who is most beloved by other team's fans. I love him and have never rooted for the Spurs. He's the universal coach. Also, I have the retroactive fantasy that I played for him in his last year at Pomona-Pitzer. I'm the right age and had the grades, test scores, and basketball skills to be the 9th man on D3 team at an elite academic university.
This hit me hard, Marc — the “one name is all you need” line was perfect. Pop really does belong in that rare category. Been following your work forever, and this one really landed.
I’ve been a Spurs fan since I got to San Antonio in ’95, and reading your piece brought back a flood of memories. It actually pushed me to finally launch my own Substack, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by writing about Pop — what he meant to the team, the city, and to fans like me.
If anyone here’s interested in a fan’s lens on it all:
🪑 Part 1 – The Era Begins (firing Bob Hill, the Duncan “tank,” Avery’s jumper):
As a Pomona alum, I had a soft spot for Pop even before he established himself as the greatest coach of his generation in the NBA. He had left before I matriculated, but I learned about him writing a story for my school paper on Coach Kasiafiacas (Coach Kat), Popovich's replacement who was coming off only the 2nd SCIAC championship in Pomona-Pitzer history (the first having been under Pop).
Coach Kat talked about how he learned a lot for Pop, who at the time was working under Larry Brown as an assistant for the Spurs. I remember a few years later hearing form Mike Budenholzer (who was at Pomona the same time I was) about how Popovich was joining my favorite team (Golden State) as an assistant. So even though I never got to meet him (he did briefly visit the campus to give a talk to the team, but I only heard about it later), the fact that he was the coach at my alma mater and then an assistant for my hometown team, cemented me as a fan.
And while my Warriors scuffled over most of the next 15+ years after Pop took over the Spurs, I was a not so closeted fan of the Spurs not just because of the serendipitous connections I had to him, but because they were the team that was often challenging the Lakers for dominance in the aughts (and as a NorCal resident, liking the enemy of our 'enemies' in SoCal came naturally).
Sad to see him have to step away in a way I'm sure was not how he'd have preferred, but he deserves all the flowers he will undoubtedly get for a tremendous career. Respect
So you knew Bud well as a student?
Pomona is a small school, so we crossed paths. There were a couple people in my circle who played on the team with Bud (he'll remember Bill Cover, for sure, who was a Bay Area kid, like me), and that's how I got to know him a bit.
The actual conversation where I learned about Pop coaching at Golden State came up because, iirc, he was talking about possibly interning with the Warriors after graduation (he graduated a year before me). I just remember the Warriors coming up, which perked up my ears, and he said Pop was joining their staff. I don't remember if Bud said he had already lined up an internship, or that he might try to see if he could, because of the Pomona connection. But that was how I remember learning that Pop was joining Don Nelson's staff.
Pop is the professional coach who is most beloved by other team's fans. I love him and have never rooted for the Spurs. He's the universal coach. Also, I have the retroactive fantasy that I played for him in his last year at Pomona-Pitzer. I'm the right age and had the grades, test scores, and basketball skills to be the 9th man on D3 team at an elite academic university.
This hit me hard, Marc — the “one name is all you need” line was perfect. Pop really does belong in that rare category. Been following your work forever, and this one really landed.
I’ve been a Spurs fan since I got to San Antonio in ’95, and reading your piece brought back a flood of memories. It actually pushed me to finally launch my own Substack, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by writing about Pop — what he meant to the team, the city, and to fans like me.
If anyone here’s interested in a fan’s lens on it all:
🪑 Part 1 – The Era Begins (firing Bob Hill, the Duncan “tank,” Avery’s jumper):
👉 https://tinyurl.com/Pop-era-Begins
🌳 Part 2 – Pop Built It All (culture, coaching tree, legacy beyond the rings):
👉 https://tinyurl.com/Pop-Built-it-All
Appreciate you always, and thanks for giving the green light to share.
— Xavier (@thexreport)
Xavier with his own Substack!