Following his gold medal in Tokyo, Gregg Popovich will no longer be the US coach. This is how Marc J. Spears, a journalist from The Undefeated, which states that Grant Hill, director of the men’s team, is already looking for a replacement. Specifically, Hill is looking for a coach with experience on both the NBA benches and the national team, and wants to have the square covered before the new season begins on October 18.
Technicians such as Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers, Nate McMillan, Monty Williams, Tom Thibodeau, Erik Spoelstra or Lloyd Pierce fit these conditions and seem like the main options, although other alternatives such as Jeff VanGundy are being considered. In any case, whoever is chosen, presumably will have a team of luxury assistants, as was the case with Popovich at the recent Olympics.
“We are looking for someone who understands and respects international basketball,” says Hill. “The dynamics are somewhat different from what happens in an NBA season, and you have to deal with and guide the players in a very short time. We want someone who controls the locker room, who knows how to train and who understands that there is a lot to do. When you study FIBA basketball, you see that it is totally different, and respecting and understanding it is of vital importance for both our coaches and our players ”.
On the other hand, it seems inevitable that his departure from the national team reopens the debate about how much Popovich has left at the helm of the Spurs. At 72 years old, the coach could be facing one of his last seasons, although if he has shown something over the years, it is that he should never be considered retired.
(Cover photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)