Gregg Popovich May Be The Hero We Need In The Fight To Stop LeBron James
There are a lot of reasons to love Gregg Popovich. He’s grouchy and hilarious, he’s the best coach on the planet, and today we learned what might be my favorite reason. According to Stephen A Smith, Pop is doing everything in his power to fight off LeBron James and the Lakers in their pursuit of Anthony Davis. Here’s what he said on First Take today
“I’ve been told that one of the people Dell Demps has communicated with is Gregg Popovich — not for trade talks or anything, but Popovich has said, ‘Don’t cave to the Los Angeles Lakers, like we didn’t. Don’t think for one second that you have to be compelled to move Anthony Davis now. You can wait,’” Smith said. “That’s what he’s been telling Dell Demps.”
He then said he wasn’t sure if that was true, but let me ask you this. When has Stephen A ever not spoke the truth? Exactly. What better man to help put up a resistance against the LeBron/Rich Paul power couple than Popovich? If you remember, he already had to deal with them when it came to his former player Kawhi Leonard. It was pretty clear he wanted to go to LA, that LeBron had already tried to lure him over to the dark side, and there was Pop like a goddamn super hero who would not cave to those demands. He didn’t panic, he didn’t cave under the pressure of knowing he was going to lose his franchise player and realized they had all the power and didn’t have to cater to whatever the player wanted. I’m sure it was pretty clear by last year’s deadline that Kawhi wasn’t staying in SA but Pop stood firm. He took his time and eventually shipped him to another country and got a decent return instead, one that has the Spurs in a decent position out West this season.
And sure, there are some self serving interests on Pop’s side seeing as how he would have to directly complete with this AD/LeBron super team. He’s no dummy, he knows that if AD waives his trade kicker then LA may have the space for another max slot. But you know what I don’t even care about that. Pop has my full support in his endeavor to make sure Dell Demps doesn’t pee down his pants and make a gigantic mistake by accepting the Lakers offer now. This isn’t some no name blogger like myself begging him to take a deep breath and stand strong against LeBron. This is Greg Popovich, the most respected basketball mind on the planet. I’ll remind you that Dell Demps also played for the Spurs in 1995 while Popovich was part of the organization so if anyone can break through and prevent this from happening, it’s Pop.
If you remember this isn’t even the first time Pop has done something like this either. Years ago when the Lakers traded mostly trash for Pau Gasol, he didn’t hold back
“What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension,” said Popovich. “There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade.”
Preach Pop preach!!
I now need someone to ask about this stragtegy in his next pregame interview. There’s no doubt in my mind he won’t deny it because as we know Pop gives absolutely zero fucks at all times. I’m pretty sure this is tampering or pretty close to it but since when does the league care about that? The Lakers are doing it so why can’t it be used against them. Tough shit. I’m just glad Pop is willing to do his part in blocking this potential trade from happening, I always knew I liked him for a reason and I think our collective hatred for the Lakers might just be it.