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Danny Green reveals why Gregg Popovich still terrifies Spurs players to this day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Gregg Popovich is no longer coaching the San Antonio Spurs, his presence around the team has remained constant throughout the season. After the Spurs suffered a disappointing 123-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, Popovich reportedly stormed into the locker room and delivered a blunt message to the team.
De'Aaron Fox later discussed the moment during NBC’s NBA Showtime following the Spurs’ emphatic 103-82 bounce-back win in Game 4, describing it as a major reality check for the organization. Danny Green also reflected on Popovich’s impact and the weight his words still carry within the franchise.
“A huge presence, I mean it doesn’t go away,” Green said. “He’s just one of those guys that you’re fearful of regardless of age or health. I’m still scared of him to this day. So when he walks in a room, you know it’s business and it’s serious. So he came in, I'm sure he left an imprint on them. He let them know who's messing up, who needs to come to play.”
Green explained that Popovich commands respect from everyone in the organization, including Spurs legends Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and Tony Parker.
“Everyone respects him,” Green said. “I'm sure he let them have it. And that's just, you know, Pop in his nicer days. I couldn't imagine how he would have been during my time. So I've seen and heard quite a bit of Pop, especially when he was younger and in our losses.. So I know what they went through and I felt scared for those guys and I still feel scared for those guys."
The Spurs answered in incredible fashion in Game 4, bringing relentless defensive intensity from the opening tip. They opened the game with a 16-0 run and stretched the lead to as many as 25 points. Defense has always been central to Popovich’s philosophy, and the Spurs embodied that identity by smothering the Thunder offensively and limiting them to just 33% shooting from the floor.
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