The San Antonio Spurs are having a tough time. The franchise is on track to perform worse than last season, which has been an unwelcome surprise. Some people are pointing fingers at Gregg Popovich for this sluggish start, taking aim at his controversial decision to start Jeremy Sochan at point guard, and asking fans not to boo Kawhi Leonard in a recent matchup only made matters worse. As a result, he is facing the most criticism he has seen in decades.
A similarly slow start in 1999 had the organization on the brink of firing Coach Popovich unless he got things back on track, and he led a swift turnaround that ended in their first NBA championship. Fast forward 24 years later, and the pressure is gradually mounting. Though some corners of the fan base have stood up for the long-time head coach, others have lost their patience. A.M. Hoops, a prominent NBA Vlogger, recently shared his thoughts on the situation.
As he reflected on Popovich's past, he couldn't help but remember the controversial beginning of his career, where he started as the General Manager, fired Bob Hill, and appointed himself as head coach. Many fans initially viewed this as a power-hungry and arrogant move. The fact he kicked off his tenure with only 17 wins also did nothing to help improve his image. However, Popovich eventually secured five titles and became one of the greatest playcallers in league history.
He also discussed how Coach Popovich was the founder of the corner three and the architect who designed the immaculate ball movement of the beautiful game. Despite encountering countless challenges throughout his career, he has always found a way to stay on top. Looking back on his achievements might make us smile, but all good things come to an end. As such, it's up to fans to decide whether his past feats merit patience or if we are witnessing the decline of a legend.