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The Gregg Popovich-to-Brooklyn conversation first started publicly on ESPN in the midst of the NBA’s hiatus.
Stephen A Smith proposed the idea on First Take and, months later, multiple reports indicate the Nets are doing everything they can to court the legendary coach.
Adding Popovich to any team instantly increases their standing, no matter what the roster looks like. But with Brooklyn, Smith thinks the fit is too perfect.
On Tuesday, Smith proclaimed the Nets “don’t have weaknesses talent-wise,” but the team is not without its issues — ones that he thinks Popovich can help address:
The issue there is culture and attitude, and making sure that somebody comes along that commands the respect of a Kyrie Irving. Not so much Kevin Durant because Kevin Durant is just the ultimate team player. He’s so efficient. You can put him in any situation and he’ll find a way to be Kevin Durant without taking anything away from what you already have. The problem is, Kyrie Irving is mercurial. He’s absolutely sensational and box office. But, because of his mercurial talents, he can alienate teammates. Because of his style of play, they [can] sit around, spectating, watching him put on a show. Or, in the process of doing so, their games ultimately fall off because they’re not allowed or entitled to do the kind of things that they would normally be able to do if he were not on the court.
Smith continued:
Gregg Popovich is the perfect complement to that situation because he’s the one that can take Kyrie under his wing and Kyrie can’t sit up there and say, ‘I’m a champion. Why do I have to listen to this guy?’ This guy’s a five-time champion. He’s been to six NBA Finals and won five of them. This man has won a career 67% of his games. He’s universally recognized as one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball. And last but not least, you’re talking about the iconic figures in the history of the sport. The Tim Duncans of the world. The LeBron James of the world. The Dwyane Wades of the world and others who swear by this man and his coaching ability. Kyrie can’t overcome that. And I think because of it, where you’re just talking about an attitude transplant per se, that’s where Popovich comes in and can have an immediate, profound impact, similar to what Phil Jackson did when he came to the Lakers in 2000.
The Nets still have some work to do, but there’s no question Popovich in Brooklyn would make the team even more interesting than it’s already expected to be with Durant and Irving in town.