The Brooklyn Nets have ambitious plans for their opening to head coach, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Although the 71-year-old gave no indication that he sought to leave San Antonio, the Nets “plan to seriously explore the odds with Popovich.”
The Spurs finished a 32-39 season, without reaching the playoffs for the first time since Popovich’s first year in 1996–97.
In his 24 seasons with the Spurs, Popovich led his team to four NBA titles and 1,277 regular-season victories, the third-most titles in league history.
Even after a disappointing season, he is in a position to continue training in 2020-21.
Gregg Popovich on training next year: “Why me?”
It might be hard for the Nets to borrow it from the Spurs, but they’re obviously looking for someone who can turn the team into an instant contender next season.
Despite the end of the year with a first-round sweep of the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn hopes to have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant healthy next year, who charge $300 million combined as loose agents.With players like Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen emerging as quality contributors, this team can be detrimental in the East Conference.
The first step is to track down a coach after Kenny Atkinson was fired in March.Jacque Vaughn was the interim coach when the NBA restarted, but the team helps keep his duties open.
General manager Sean Marks has in the past denied that the team is targeting Popovich.
“Pop has a job. So I’m going to say it,” Marks WFAN Joe
Charania also called the veteran coach a “chimera right now,” however, the Nets will at least try to get him out of the Spurs.