Ranking the legendary Gregg Popovich’s funniest and most memorable quotes of all time.
One of the most popular ontological questions asked throughout society is “if you could sit down . to dinner with one person on Earth, who would it be?” Chances are, Gregg Popovich would come up in the conversation for any NBA fans.
One of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, Popovich’s personality is what sets him apart. The long-time Spurs head coach has been known to give even the most experienced journalists a hard time. However, it’s all in the name of good fun… most of the time.
From his sideline antics with the late Craig Sager, to his calling out young journalists, Pop is one of the most animated coaches in the league. His experience and presence during press conferences make him one of the most challenging men to interview. Some say it’d be a dream; others, a nightmare.
Over the years, the Spurs’ head coach has given journalists and fans alike some of the funniest, wackiest quotes ever. In this article, I’m going to talk about and rank Popovich’s top five best quotes during interviews or press conferences.
5. “You ever hear of Manslaughter?”
Following the Spurs’ Game 1 meltdown versus the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 Western Conference Finals, Gregg Popovich gave journalists a quote for the ages.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, one reporter decided to open the interview with a question about Kawhi Leonard’s absence hurting the team. The long-time Spurs head coach immediately cut the reporter off and called his question silly.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
However, after a few more seconds of noiselessness, Coach Popovich introduced his frustration-filled tirade. “I’m not a happy camper,” he said. Pop began by singling out Warriors Center Zaza Pachulia. In fact, he noted Pachulia’s history as a dirty player, especially against the Spurs. Additionally, Popovich called Pachulia’s closeout “unnatural” and noted the league’s outlawing of the move.
Then, Pop shifted focus.
Popovich noted that the Spurs were significant underdogs to the team who many claim to be the NBA’s best. He proceeded to answer the reporter’s question and noted the significance of the situation, indirectly saying the incident was no accident. Meanwhile, his tone became increasingly frustrated.
Ironically enough, Popovich ended his response in a way that only he could. “Follow up?” Pop said with a smirk on his face. The tension in the room immediately turned into laughter.
The 68-year old went on to express how integral the play was by comparing Pachulia’s play to a manslaughter charge. “You ever hear of manslaughter?” Popovich asked. He stated that those charged with manslaughter are still punished, despite having no intent.
In this interview, Popovich displayed his love for the game and vibrant personality during a trying time for his team.