Coach Pop gushes over Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker & more

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Any reporter that’s been in a press conference with San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich is always a little scared that their question is going to get thrown back in their face and they’ll be the laughingstock of the day (even if it’s a legitimate question). So sometimes it’s best to just ask Pop questions through email.

Pop took some time to answer some mail from fans all over the country. A lot were legitimate questions about specific players, coaching strategies and the future of the team, but there were also a few about Pop’s reading habits, musical tastes and hobbies. Pop showed a bit of a sense of humor, of course not as much as when he answers questions on Twitter.

There are two things I like a lot about Pop that really come out in this interview. The first is that he’s upfront and honest. For example, when talking about the priority of the defense, he says it’s always at the top of the list, but that they’re never going to be the defensive powerhouse that they were a few years ago.

The other thing is Pop’s dedication to his players. He has nothing but good things to say about everyone on his team and it shows he’s really devoted to them. He goes on and on about the potential of Patty Mills and Kawhi Leonard and gushes over Tony Parker’s ability to listen to the coach. He even says he thinks Tiago Splitter and DeJuan Blair are going to have big years for the Spurs.

Of course, in true Coach Pop fashion, he has to close things out with a little bit of straight shooting. One guy asked him for some advice for aspiring basketball coaches. Pop’s response?

“Buy a coat and a tie, and get a job.”

Check out the whole interview when you have a chance.