When the San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the franchise’s future was changed forever. Soon thereafter, the club not only drafted international phenom Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick, but the Spurs also extended head coach Gregg Popovich for an additional five years of service. Thanks to a few lucky ping pong balls, one of basketball’s most intriguing young players was paired with one of its most celebrated coaches.
The 2023 offseason was indeed an important one for the Spurs, and while the 19-year-old Wembanyama has yet to step foot on an NBA court, his new coach has been at it for quite some time. In fact, Popovich had already won two NBA titles and a Coach of the Year Award before Wembanyama was even born. Popovich is also experienced in helping rising stars meet their potential, something he did numerous times with players like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. Wembanyama is in line to benefit greatly from Popovich’s many years of service and his unique approach to coaching.
The 2023 offseason also saw Popovich join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The weekend featured a number of honorifics and events attended by many different members of the basketball community. One such attendee was University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari, who spoke at an event welcoming the newest members of the Naismith Coaches Circle.
Spurs Wire asked Calipari about how Popovich will help Wembanyama in transitioning to the NBA. Calipari, a Hall of Famer himself, believes this pairing will be a perfect match.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich delivered a classic one-liner before offering a sincere message when asked why he continues to return to the San Antonio sidelines each year. https://t.co/715GC2Dxic
— SpursWire (@Spurs_Wire) August 11, 2023