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#1 Gregg Popovich is their head coach
Team USA also has another advantage. They have a legendary coach to guide them through the tournament. This year, Gregg Popovich will be coaching the World Cup team. Popovich is the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and has been with them since 1996.
Throughout the years, Popovich has coached the Spurs to the playoffs and multiple championships. He became head coach after firing Spurs coach Bob Hill and naming himself head coach. Popovich was the general manager and vice president of basketball operations of the Spurs before stepping into the head coach position.
The Spurs missed the playoffs in 1996-97 (the season he fired Hill and took over) but have always been in the playoffs ever since. Their streak stands at 23 years. Regardless of how long they last (be it the first round or the NBA Finals), Popovich and the Spurs find a way to get into the playoffs.
Popovich is a five-time NBA champion and three-time Coach of the Year. He won championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Pop also became the winningest coach in NBA history back in April. He won 1,413 games (regular season and playoff), surpassing Lenny Wilkens, who had 1,412.
Popovich is a great basketball mind with years of experience. He is the ideal coach for Team USA and its young players. Popovich can be strict when necessary but typically has a quiet and sometimes sarcastic demeanor. His coaching style and personality meshed with players such as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker who all won championships under Pop. His style also worked for a young Kawhi Leonard, who eventually went on to join the Raptors (and then the Clippers). So, he's coached great players and led them to success.
Gregg Popovich is a coaching legend. Team USA's players will benefit from his teaching and will not only develop their games for the World Cup but the upcoming season. It is a win-win situation for them.
Regardless of how Team USA does, one thing is for sure. Popovich will coach them till the end. It does not matter if they win the gold medal or not; he will treat them like his Spurs.
All in all, you cannot go wrong with Pop, and Team USA should play well under him.
Guess the Lakers players!
