Gregg Popovich has been synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs for the last two-and-a-half decades, but one team could still be trying to swing for the fences in the hopes of luring him away.
In an appearance this week on the “Let’s Get Technical” podcast with retired NBA stars Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells, Gerald Brown of SiriusXM NBA Radio noted the presence of rumors linking Popovich to the Brooklyn Nets. The rumors state that Nets owner Joe Tsai is looking to make a “godfather offer” to Popovich for him to come coach the team.
"There's a story going around that the Brooklyn Nets are looking to make a Godfather offer to Gregg Popovich." #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/mcZM23m8up
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) July 3, 2020
While Brown did add that he was not really buying the rumors, it is worth noting that ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith mentioned Popovich in connection with the Brooklyn job back in March.
According to @stephenasmith, there are only three candidates to fill the head coaching job with the Brooklyn Nets …
… one of them is Gregg Popovich. pic.twitter.com/yc6jUkg6zS
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 9, 2020
Popovich, who is reportedly taking his coaching future on a year-to-year basis, is well-acquainted with Nets GM Sean Marks, who used to be an assistant on his staff in San Antonio. Popovich is also currently the head coach of USA Basketball but has yet to actually coach the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan since taking over for Mike Krzyzewski in 2017. He did, however, coach Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris at last year’s FIBA World Cup.
Still, Popovich is already 71 years old, and he may not be willing to uproot his life and take over a new organization with his coaching career winding down. Thus, this other title-winning head coach that Brooklyn is also targeting may prove to be a much more realistic option for them.
