Gregg Popovich with Kevin Durant
Gregg Popovich worked with Kevin Durant during his stint with the USA National Team. He led the team to an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He mentioned that he could see the USA National team blossom under the leadership of Kevin Durant. Gregg is the longest tenured head coach in the NBA history. He also has the most wins by any coach in NBA.
Gregg Popovich recalled the memory Kevin Durant left in his mind during the stint with the USA National Team. “When practices were over, not just the other players but the coaching staff, we’d all be mesmerized,” said Gregg before Nets crushed the Spurs, 139-103, at Barclays Center.
He added, “[We would] watch him go through his individual workout. He’d go over at one of the baskets — usually [Jazz coach] Will Hardy would take him over there — and he busted Will Hardy’s butt for like 45 minutes chasing balls and throwing it back to him as he did his workout. … It was just his way.”
Gregg Popovich said he saw players like Devin Booker and Damian Lillard watch Kevin as an inspiration. The pair of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant poured in a total of 52 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists collectively.
Coach Pop added, “I don’t think other players from other teams did those sorts of things, he loved the game in that way to really work on all the basics and all the fundamentals. It was special.”
Kevin Durant has been a part of NBA since 2007 and is nearing his 1000th game. Nets stand on the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference after the first 37 games of the season. Would they be able to secure the spot to the NBA Finals this season?
Gregg Popovich was filed with praises for Kevin Durant, he mentioned not many would understand how hard KD works. According to Coach Pop, fans feel KD is just naturally talented, but the work he puts in to stand tall in the NBA, is exceptional.
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