Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen, under siege from his players, has leaned on mentor Gregg Popovich for support.
Boylen served as an assistant under Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs from 2013 to 2015 and has clearly used him as a coaching influence. The two apparently still speak, as Boylen said Popovich has privately offered him support as he clashes with his players.
Jim Boylen said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has reached out to him recently to offer support: "It means the world. He’s arguably one of the two or three best coaches of all-time that I have a relationship with and that cares about me. And I care about him."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 14, 2018
Boylen has actually used some of the tactics Popovich has used on his Bulls players. That has clearly backfired, and Boylen was told he has a long way to go before he can consider himself in the same league as the Spurs’ coach. Regardless, Popovich is apparently supporting him, for whatever it’s worth.
