The Influence Of Gregg Popovich On Steve Kerr
By Sumeet Paul
When it comes to discussing the all-time great coaches of the NBA, Gregg Popovich’s name is never too far away given his success with the San Antonio Spurs.
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Having won five championships with the franchise, Pop’s legacy is secured and yet he continues to have an impact on the league as a whole. His influence is far-reaching, with former players going on to work as coaches and team officials across the league with Steve Kerr and Mike Budenholzer a case in point as they lead their respective Conferences so far this season.
Kerr spent time playing for Popovich in San Antonio, and it was undoubtedly a key learning period for him which has prepared him for life on the bench as he had the perfect mentor on hand to learn from.
Ahead of a meeting between their teams earlier this season, Popovich revealed that he knew Kerr was destined to coach given that he was a natural leader as a player. He added that his former charge was highly intelligent and showed numerous qualities for a future role in coaching, but in typical Pop fashion he couldn’t help but dig at him by expressing his shock at the Warriors defense given Kerr’s lack of ability in that department.
The Warriors place an emphasis on sharing the ball and lead the league in assists per game with 27.2, but it is also the way that Steve Kerr has moulded this team in a similar way to the Spurs.
Nevertheless, while Kerr has publicly admitted that he is lucky to have Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson at his disposal which has arguably made his early success possible, the overall system and style of play is very much influenced by Popovich.
Feb 11, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich yells instructions during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors place an emphasis on sharing the ball and lead the league in assists per game with 27.2, but it is the way that Kerr has moulded this team in a similar fashion to the successful Spurs teams over the last two decades.
The 49-year-old has firstly moved to protect the core of his squad, as he has established that stability and longevity are key aspects of breeding success in the NBA. Golden State owner Joe Lacob has conceded that it is inevitable that the franchise will pay the luxury tax next year, and that is because he wants to keep this roster together to maintain a level of familiarity.
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Andrew Bogut is seemingly playing a bigger role on offense and displaying the savvy play that is at times befitting of Tiago Splitter and Tim Duncan, while Draymond Green has added presence and craft to support him. In addition, the bench has played a key role in the impressive start to the season and depth is a vital part of winning in this league and will only become more prominent in the playoffs.
While teams will naturally benefit from having superstars, what makes them legitimate championship contenders is their role players who can turn good teams into great ones. The ‘Big-Three’ is seemingly the recipe for success, but it certainly helps when you have multiple players capable of having an impact on a game on any given night and they each know their role and understand the team comes first.
With the assists, three-point prowess and fluidity in their play, the Warriors are a refreshing new edition of the Spurs in some aspects. While the Atlanta Hawks have been labelled the ‘Spurs of the East’, it might be time for the new kids on the block in the West to be handed the baton by Parker-Duncan and Ginobili et al.