San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich joked on Monday that future Hall of Fame big man and recently hired assistant coach Tim Duncan “doesn't know a lick about coaching.”
Per Marc Stein of The New York Times, Popovich even trolled Duncan and said he doesn't even know why he hired the Spurs icon.
The 70-year-old Popovich has been the Spurs' head coach since 1996. The next year, San Antonio selected Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest with the first overall pick in the 1997 draft.
Guided by “Pop” and led on the hardwood by Duncan, the Spurs won all five of their franchise's championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Duncan became one of the most decorated two-way players in the NBA under Coach Popovich, winning back-to-back league MVPs in 2002 and 2003, three Finals MVPs, 15 All-Star Game selections, and 15 All-NBA team nods — 10 of which were first-team.
Article Continues BelowThe Spurs made the surprising news late last July that Duncan would join the coaching staff. Given Duncan's quiet and remote nature, the U.S. Virgin Islands native joining Pop on the sidelines is quite shocking.
As Pop gibed, the 43-year-old Duncan indeed has no coaching experience. However, Duncan's championship pedigree and longtime connection to his head coach will surely make up for real, hands-on coaching practice.
Duncan averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for Popovich and the Spurs in his storied 19-year NBA tenure.