Coaching legend Gregg Popovich had some “choice words” for the Spurs after their 123-108 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, guard De’Aaron Fox told NBC after the team’s 103-82 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night.
“Pop’s been around like throughout the course of the season,” Fox said. “But that was the first time he walked into the locker room and was
like, ‘Nah, that’s BS. That’s not how we play basketball.’
“Obviously, he had some choice words for it. That was the first time all season he came into the locker room right after a game and told us how he felt.”
Fox said general manager Brian Wright was also present when Popovich addressed the team.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that. Trainers, everybody’s in there. We close the doors, we don’t let anybody know what’s going on in here,” said Fox, who added that seeing Popovich enter the room immediately got everyone’s attention.
Popovich, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach who guided the Spurs to five championships, retired from coaching last May following the stroke he suffered early in the 2024-25 season. He continues in his role as the team’s president of basketball operations and is frequent visitor to practices and shootarounds at the Victory Capital Performance Center.
Spurs forward Devin Vassell said he and his teammates value Popovich’s feedback.
“He’s telling you the truth and that’s what you need to hear because there’s a lot of BS that might go around,” Vassell said. “But you need to hear the truth, you need to hear what’s going on, and he’ll do that for sure.”