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San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich bought Team USA new ‘cars’

By Rob Wolkenbrod

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 26: Gregg Popovich talks to the media after USAB Minicamp Practice at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on July 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 26: Gregg Popovich talks to the media after USAB Minicamp Practice at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on July 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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San Antonio Spurs coach and Team USA headman Gregg Popovich actually bought his summer group new cars … somewhat.

Away from normal San Antonio Spurs duties, head coach Gregg Popovich helmed a minicamp for Team USA Basketball. He will coach the team in the 2020 Summer Olympics, taking over for Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.

It’s clearly a looser environment for Popovich, given how he played “aggressive” defense against some of the players, including James Harden and Victor Oladipo.

Well, Popovich took his level of fun up a notch. He held a shooting drill that resulted in seven winners who were promised cars. That sounds great in theory and a useful motivation tool, and the five-time champion did indeed follow through with his promise, in a way (h/t Pounding the Rock):

https://twitter.com/LRam2/status/1022995861482008576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1022995861482008576&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.poundingtherock.com%2F2018%2F7%2F28%2F17626114%2Fpop-is-having-too-much-fun-at-team-usa-mini-camp

Yes, now these All-Star players can go buy other cars and a race track to complete their Hot Wheels set. With some of the contracts these players have (Harden’s $200-plus million extension kicks in this fall), why not purchase the most expensive cars and sets?

The past few days proved busy at Team USA Basketball for Spurs-related tidbits, as Popovich worked with his newest player, DeMar DeRozan, for the first time. They went for one-on-one tutelage.

DeMar DeRozan getting some 1-on-1 time with his new coach Gregg Popovich. #Spurs pic.twitter.com/lzdbbCMll2

— John Elizondo (@johndelizondo) July 26, 2018

It’s quality time before Spurs training camp and the preseason arrives, as DeRozan and Popovich had the chance to become acquainted and help smooth the transition from Toronto to San Antonio, which proved to be a bumpy ride on the way out. 

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Minicamp wrapped up, though, and now begins the two month wait until the NBA prep kicks off. The ride this season will be interesting to watch with new faces in the Silver and Black. In the meantime, Popovich can have fun after a whirlwind offseason that featured controversy, rumors and longtime players departing the organization.

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