Gregg Popovich is a living legend in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs head coach, who has been in that position for 26 years now, recently became the most successful coach in the history of the league, having more wins under his belt than any other coach throughout the history of the NBA.
Popovich has coached some of the greatest players in the history of the league during his time as Spurs head coach. And over the years, several players have picked up some great stories and life lessons while sitting under Pop’s learning tree. But perhaps one of the most unique stories is the one that DeMar DeRozan recently shared.
As a tribute piece to commemorate Gregg Popovich’s winning ways, ESPN recently spoke to several players who have played under Pop. DeMar DeRozan revealed that while he was with the Spurs, Pop made him and the team watch a documentary about penguins and their community activities to help teach the squad about the importance of teamwork.
“I remember Pop made us watch a penguin National Geographic movie. It was very interesting. It was basically learning about teamwork. How to come together as one and go after a common goal, whatever that goal was. I thought it was going to be a day where we watch film. But we watched a full penguin movie – and it was the most interesting sh*t. How they migrate. How the males watch the eggs while the female goes out for X amount of months to go collect food. How they walk 60 miles to the water and 60 miles back while the males watch – it was the most craziest sh*t. But everybody basically playing their role. But to look at it from the perspective of penguins, that’s some Pop sh*t.”
DeRozan’s was far from the only unique story to come about Gregg Popovich as part of ESPN’s piece. Former Spurs legend Manu Ginobili also revealed that Pop took him and the rest of the squad for dinner right after Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals when Ray Allen made one of the greatest shots in NBA history to deny the Spurs the NBA championship.
Pop will go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball. His accomplishments in the NBA, along with his work with Team USA will always be remembered, and there is no denying the impact Popovich has had on the sport of basketball.
