If there’s one thing fans and the media know about San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, it’s the fact that he hates interviews.
However, one particular reporter seemed to not get the notice and made matters worse by proceeding to ask a long question that irritated Gregg Popovich.
During a post-game press conference after the Spurs’ 104-103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last Wednesday, the legendary coach was asked about the changing style in the NBA and his insistence to stick to his philosophy of utilizing the mid-range. Nonetheless, Coach Pop didn’t answer and instead focused on the way the reporter asked the question — obviously annoyed that it wasn’t direct.
Here’s the full sequence of the interview, via David Cobb of Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Reporter: “Is that difficult when you have a style in the NBA – everything is changing with everyone shooting 3-pointers and not utilizing the mid-range – Memphis is doing what they do, you do what you do as far as shooting the mid-range. To stay the course…
Popovich: “This is a really long question.”
Reporter: “I understand. I’m getting there. But to stay the course, is that hard when the league is changing?”
Popovich: “It’s like Fox News or MSNBC or CNN talking heads. Asking a question and it takes like three minutes to ask the question. You say ‘where’s the question here? What’s the question?’ It takes forever. You want us to know everything you know first before asking the question. I already forgot the beginning. Have a good night.”
Popovich has never been a darling of the media. In fact, it’s rare for him to give revealing answers after games, more so after a loss.
It’s not the first time that he blasted a reporter during a post-game presser, and it’s unlikely that it will be the last. The media, however, can learn a thing or two from this incident: never ask Pop a long question.
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