The Spurs announced Monday that registration is open for its second annual Gregg Popovich Coach to Coaches Clinic.
Set for 12:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Frost Bank Center before the start of the team's annual Silver & Black Open Scrimmage, the free clinic is open to basketball coaches of all levels and will be headed by Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and members of his staff.
Registration runs through Oct. 2.
More than 800 coaches representing more than 200 schools, organizations and communities from across the San Antonio area participated in last year's inaugural clinic.
"Coach Popovich has always emphasized the importance of teaching, sharing knowledge and helping others grow," Johnson said. "Last year's clinic was a great opportunity to connect with coaches in our community, and we're looking forward to continuing that tradition this year. We're excited to welcome everyone back to Frost Bank Center."

#coach #popovich

Stephon Castle showcases his gratitude for the Spurs legends' impactful support originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Across the NBA, there are plenty of iconic franchises. One of them is the San Antonio Spurs, a team with a history of success. They have won five championships in their time in the NBA, and their legends continue to stick around and help the next generation.
People like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson, and many more are always present for the Spurs. This has helped the younger players because they know that they have some mentors to go to when they need help.
For any Spurs player, they will become familiar with the older figures within the organization who have been there for a long time. Of course, Gregg Popovich is probably the most recognizable one, as he is still the team president.
Mitch Johnson might have taken over as the head coach, but Pop still has an impact and influence on the players. Youngsters like Castle and Dylan Harper are benefiting from this because they know they have mentors to look up to.

#sporting #team #Help

Some NBA relationships are built around basketball. Dejounte Murray's bond with Gregg Popovich clearly went much deeper, and years after leaving the San Antonio Spurs, Murray is still opening up about the coach who cared about his life before his career.
That meant stepping into problems most young players would struggle to handle alone. For Murray, Popovich became someone he could trust during some of the toughest moments of his life. That relationship still carries plenty of weight today.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray
Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
On August 29, Murray's emotional account of Popovich's influence revealed just how personal their relationship became during his early NBA years. Murray said the Spurs legend was more than a coach and described him as a father figure who genuinely wanted him to succeed in life first and basketball second.
"He was like a father figure. There's, there's – it's so many stories. And if he was able to come sit here and talk, he'd tell you he's never had a player come in his office that cried on his shoulder from how many murders he had to deal with back home in Seattle. How many funerals I had to pay for.

#many #coach

Don Nelson, the second winningest coach in NBA history, a five-time NBA champion as a player and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, has died, it was announced Sunday. He was 86.
"On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family," Nelson's family said in a statement, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories."
FILE - Former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson smiles while being interviewed at the Warriors NBA training facility in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson finished with a regular season record of 1,335-1,063. He retired with the most coaching wins ever, a mark that was broken by the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich in March 2022.
Nelson made 18 playoff appearances as a coach, finishing with a 75-91 postseason record.

#nelson

Don Nelson, who won the second-most games of any coach in NBA history and five NBA ******* les as a player with the Boston Celtics, died on Sunday, his family announced. He was 86.
Nelson was a member of NBA championship teams with Boston from 1966 to 1976 and the Celtics retired his jersey number 19.
As a coach, Nelson finished with a record of 1,335-1,063 -- what had been an NBA record until Gregg Popovich passed him in 2022 -- in stints with Golden State, Milwaukee, New York and Dallas from 1976 to 2010.
"Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
"He spent nearly 50 years in the NBA -– winning five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics before building one of the most successful and pioneering coaching careers in league history.

#five

In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson finished with a regular-season record of 1,335-1,063. He retired with the most coaching wins ever, a mark that was broken by the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich in March 2022. Nelson made 18 playoff appearances as a coach, finishing with a 75-91 postseason record. As a player, Nelson won five NBA **** les in 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, who retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978. Overall, he played 14 seasons in the NBA. Immediately following his playing career, Nelson joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an **** istant coach for the 1976-77 season. Just 15 games into that season, he was promoted to head coach after Larry Costello was fired.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee …

#nelson #head #record

Former Celtics 5-time NBA champion dies at 86 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Don Nelson will be remembered for his more than three decades as a head coach, a career that ended atop the all-time wins list, but he first made his name in a Celtics uniform.
Nelson died Sunday at the age of 86, his family announced. The Dallas Morning News reported Nelson suffered a stroke three weeks earlier and had been in hospice care in the Dallas area.
Nelson retired with 1,335 career wins, which remain more than any coach in NBA history other than Gregg Popovich. While he didn't win a championship or even reach the NBA Finals as a head coach, Nelson was a key cog on ******* le-winning Celtics teams in the 1960s and 1970s.
Here's more to know about Nelson's playing career.

#Career #time #head

Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Nelson has died at the age of 86. His family issued an statement to announce the death on Sunday, according to reporter Marc Stein.
"On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family," the family said. "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories."
Nelson was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year winner and won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics also retired Nelson's No. 19 jersey in 1978. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements in 2012.
In 31 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, along with two stints with the Golden State Warriors, Nelson compiled a 1335-1063 record with seven Central Division ****** les.
Though he never won an NBA championship as a coach, Nelson ranks second all-time in wins among NBA head coaches, behind only Gregg Popovich, and is one of three coaches to win 1,300 games.

#fame #celtics #grandfather

Gregg Popovich is moving in a positive direction as he continues to recover from his health issues. San Antonio Spurs CEO RC Buford provided the uplifting update on the basketball legend in his recent appearance on Trashtalk. "He continues to rehab with more purpose and diligence than I think any of us could have imagined," Buford revealed when asked about Popovich's current health status. "He's improving, and his presence is always there to support the team."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "He continues to rehab with more purpose and diligence …

#antonio

Former Spurs ***** istant Chip Engelland is leaving Oklahoma City to join the Houston Rockets, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.
Engelland, long known as one of the league's best shooting coaches, built his reputation over nearly two decades on Spurs coaching staffs under Gregg Popovich from 2005-22. While in San Antonio, he built a relationship with Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who had two stints with the Spurs as a player (2007-09 and 2010-11) and served as an ***** istant coach from 2012-19.
After leaving the Spurs four years ago, Engelland helped build a championship team in Oklahoma City along with head coach Mark Daigneault and general manager Sam Presti, another former Spurs staffer. The Thunder went from the fourth-worst record in the league the season before Engelland arrived to having the best record in the Western Conference for three straight seasons and an NBA ***** le in 2025.
READ MORE: Spurs re-sign 'dynamic' guard David Jones Garcia to another two-way contract
Engelland, 65, helped many players develop into shooting threats during his 17 seasons with the Spurs, including Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson.

#oklahoma #former #assistant #best

TUSCARAWAS TWP. — Registration for this week's Tigertown Open will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14.
The 75th Tigertown Open will be played on Friday, July 17 at The Elms Country Club. With a $5,000 guaranteed prize, the event has Ohio's largest one-day first-place pro golf prize. Amateur and senior amateur players will play for cash prizes under USGA regulations.
To sign up, visit www.golfhub.golfgenius.com... For more information, call Tony Mastrianni at The Elms at 330-833-2668.
Reach Mike at mike.popovichcantonrep.com
On X: PopperUSATODAY | On Instagram: mike_popovich | On Snapchat: popovich_mike | On TikTok: mikepopovich

Lakers' trade attempt for two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard reportedly blocked originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kawhi Leonard is a bona fide Hall of Fame forward who has remained consistent as a mid-range extraordinaire, three-point sniper, and menacing on-and off-ball defender.
Back in 2018, the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to secure the two-way superstar’s polished two-way services to position themselves perfectly for regular championship runs. According to a former Spurs staffer, the Lakers inquired about a potential blockbuster trade for the seven-time All-Star, but former head coach Greg Popovich quickly put the kibosh on the idea.
“Don’t trade great players to your rivals,” the staffer told the Ringer’s Bill Simmons last Thursday. “I remember the Lakers were calling us in 2018, ‘Can we get Kawhi Leonard from you?’ And Pop was like, (expletive) no.”
“We’re not trading our best player to the team we think is a real threat to our championship hopes over here.’ So we sent him to the Eastern Conference to Toronto (Raptors) for many reasons, but one of them was like we’re not here to help our rivals in Los Angeles.”

Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA under the tutelage of one of the all-time great coaches, and it was his first gesture that earned the San Antonio Spurs superstar’s trust.
Wembanyama entered the NBA as the next great superstar for the San Antonio Spurs. For a player of his talent and gifts to sit under the learning tree of one of the league’s best coaches was a stroke of luck.
But there were some concerns that a strict general like Gregg Popovich may antagonise Wembanyama too early in his career. But his first gesture towards the French center created a strong bond.
In a conversation with San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker, Victor Wembanyama reflected on his first meeting with Gregg Popovich.
Popovich invited him and his entire family to dinner a little after Wembanyama arrived in the United States.

Victor Wembanyama’s first NBA Finals run changed the way some commentators talked about him, and Jason Whitlock turned that shift into a direct attack on Gregg Popovich.
The San Antonio Spurs star entered the postseason with the profile of the league’s next clean superstar. By the end of the run against the New York Knicks, his physical play, visible frustration, and post-series reaction had become part of a much harsher debate.
Whitlock went further than most by blaming the Spurs’ longtime coach for what he sees in Wembanyama now.
In comments shared by Jason Whitlock on X, the commentator said Popovich had shaped Wembanyama into something far different from the image many fans once embraced.
“I blame Gregg Popovich for what Victor Wembanyama has become. Victim Wembanyama,” Whitlock said. “I want you to look at this collection of lowlights that Wembanyama put together during this postseason that totally transformed his reputation.”

Spurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Antonio Spurs don’t necessarily need to swing back this offseason to return to the NBA Finals in the foreseeable future (they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks in the final round of this year's postseason).
The five-time NBA champions have the talented, evolving young players required for sustained success in the big leagues, making notable yet far-from-earth-shattering offseason acquisitions more than acceptable.
However, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn thinks it isn’t off-base to suggest the Spurs could land a Los Angeles Lakers star and four-time NBA champion who’s likely to receive an enticing free agent offer from the Golden State Warriors.
“But he (LeBron James) and longtime Spurs coach Gregg Popovich have long shared a mutual admiration,” Quinn wrote Sunday. “If he's as serious about wanting to win as he says, there's no better suitor out there. The Spurs can make the money work.”

'I wish': Gregg Popovich's melancholic reflection on not being Spurs HC in the 2026 NBA Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 is starting to echo 1999. Technological woes brought about by Y2K have become parallel to AI, a previously elected US President is currently serving his second term in the White House, and the San Antonio Spurs are facing off against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. One thing is missing though. While there is a Brunson playing on the Knicks side of the court, Coach Gregg Popovich is no longer the head coach of the Spurs, lurking on the sidelines.
Still, Popovich contributes to the Victor Wembanyama-led team's strategy, though he wishes he were on the sidelines as he was 27 years ago.
Going down 2-0 in the NBA Finals is not an easy sight to experience. What makes that even worse? For Coach Gregg Popovich, it is that his heart and mind know it can still help Victor Wembanyama and Co. topple the Knicks, but his body no longer allows him to do so.
See, Coach Pop had a stroke on November 2, 2024. Since then, he has stepped down as the head coach of the Spurs, handed the keys over to Coach Mitch Johnson, and moved over to become the President of Basketball Operations instead.

The NBA Finals are set to party like it’s 1999.
The San Antonio Spurs will host the New York Knicks in a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, marking the Knicks’ first return to the championship round since that series 27 years ago. That matchup also served as the launching point for the Spurs’ dynasty.
The Finals begin Wednesday night, and San Antonio will look to capture another championship in its first NBA Finals appearance since Gregg Popovich stepped down as head coach.
MORE: 9 notable championship rematches in professional sports history
On the other side, the Knicks are finally back on the NBA’s biggest stage after decades of frustration. Their last Finals appearance ended against the Spurs at the beginning of San Antonio’s dynasty. This time, New York hopes to rewrite history and perhaps begin a championship run of its own.