The Two Faces Of Gregg Popovich

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#NBA #Spurs #NBADeepDive

[@rustybuckets]

More like Gregg Poopovich am I right guys? 2nd channel (post game reactions) - kzbin.info/door/LlZZVU8QBpMHVT7kdEbpSQ Rusty recaps on Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/3uZ9dORqVE1LK3xPOgaHb0?si=iX_7Av1oReqHl5IXn3-pRg

[@randwarblob]

:)

[@paulwebber8931]

Run me over now, please.

[@kalvinher5066]

Greggory Poopoovich

[@bloopy273]

Dipshit made a 40 minute high quality video and then just makes a comment like this.

[@heemanijaz6100]

Why did you diss Toronto it’s not that bad :(

[@Anthony97279]

Alternative title:"How Tim Duncan was the greatest teammate of all time"

[@fakeemmcee]

GTOAT?

[@theowenstuart]

Rusty probably thinks he is #2 behind Stephen Curry. (Watch Rusty's vid on the greatest teammate of all time.)

[@cassiusfelix2805]

I know right

[@adrijiyuda]

That’s Steph or D Wade

[@CDodger24]

imagine Timmy having the same ego as his fellow elite talents. Pop and the Spurs would not have the success they had.

[@chanendlerbong]

Never saw Jacob being this serious

[@ThePrinceWhoWasPromised]

isn’t his name rusty?

[@chanendlerbong]

@@ThePrinceWhoWasPromised nah, his real name is Jacob

[@maskedthecreator1508]

@@ThePrinceWhoWasPromised what parents name their kid rusty 😂😂

[@jameshoops10]

he wasn’t?

[@carsonlamont8869]

Wait what? Is his last name even buckets?

[@bruceh1660]

Moral of the story: Tim Duncan is a top 5 player of all time.

[@Alexander.McDonald]

MJ Bron Kareem Tim Duncan Kobe

[@smashkart7129]

Duncan is my 6th below Shaq cuz he was so dominant and the best in LA but if u value longevity, I can definitely see this.

[@nathanielm5367]

@@smashkart7129 sorry, but shaq is not top 5

[@RaulakaMrTaco]

@@smashkart7129 Timmy swept Shaq in the playoffs when he was in LA. Timmy is better. More rings and MVPs. Dominants isn't everything in the NBA.

[@silverfang4583]

@@smashkart7129 shaq had too short of a prime to really value that above td being an amazing player for like 50 years

[@Gemcitylex]

I love how a Bulls fan just said 7 years between championships is a drought. Now that’s quality content 😂

[@tromboneman4517]

How many years has it been since the Bulls last won a title? Definitely a few more than 7. 😂

[@michaelshan22]

I came away from this video more impressed with Tim Duncan than anything else. He truly could have thrived in any franchise culture or coaching system, and that honestly adds to his greatness as a player in my eyes.

[@enthusiastofcute]

Thats why Duncan is the greatest PF of all time. He was a winner

[@BossItUp911]

Both of you guys have a great head on your shoulders in my eyes!

[@legendarywiimaster]

Fax

[@Heldarion]

I thought that when the video said a Kobe-Pop combination would've been incredibly volatile, in a way that's not really true. Kobe was an egomaniac, true, but he also seemed to go to insane lengths to win, which should've gelled rather well with Pop, I think.

[@BillMota]

@@HeldarionEgo will always get in the way of winning. Kobe wasn’t hugely efficient, still one of the best scorers of all time. Pop would have not enjoyed a player like Kobe in his system. Kobe wasn’t going to fall in line…

[@kingoffedoras9932]

Zaza Pachulia really ended this franchises title hopes

[@asserakram1725]

Zaza ruined the success of a billion dollar company,think of that for a minute

[@SS7dagoat]

@@asserakram1725 zaza smash 💥

[@asserakram1725]

@@SS7dagoat smashing his brain on a brick wall im guessing

[@kamran8643]

still to this day the mere mention of zaza makes me so sad

[@enthusiastofcute]

I hope though that Spurs fans don't think their team is completely innocent. Remember you guys had Bruce Bowen play for your team and he always slid underneath players.

[@ericodinson6593]

The spurs are literally one of the magical teams I've ever seen. I miss the days of 15 passes before a shot. Such beauty.

[@breezy3054]

I’m a Heat fan. That 2014 finals were dreadful. Spurs we’re assassins passing the ball.

[@Vastatio]

Sad Warriors get all the credit for ball movement and shooting 3’s when they copied what SA was doing.

[@cowisbae687]

@@Vastatio as a Spurs fan they didn’t copy it, they perfected it.

[@James-de4wx]

@@cowisbae687 yep, very true man. The 2014 Spurs ran team-oriented and ball movement that is balanced through all its players. That's why most of them has double digit averages but not surpassing the 20-point mark. On the other hand, Warriors ran the offense centered around Steph and his gravity. The Spurs started it and won with it, but the Warriors took inspiration and created a dynasty with it. Nevertheless, those two teams were some of the best basketball that I have ever watched period.

[@marcelo1458]

That is beautiful basketball indeed but you wouldn't want to see that on every possesion though. That would become a boring drag.

[@conkov5968]

No mention of Duncan going to Orlando if it wasn't for Doc Rivers disallowing his family on plane rides? Feel like that could've helped the contention even more as the selfless Duncan was extremely close to leaving Pop.

[@kevinalamo4250]

Whatchu talkmbout? I am unfamiliar w all that. Do you have a link?

[@somedude7892]

@@kevinalamo4250 If you look up what T-Mac thinks of Tim Duncan, T-Mac was part of the Magic back in the day and Doc Rivers was his coach. T-Mac jokingly blames Doc for not giving Tim Duncan what he wanted, but was serious about how he definitely would've won a ring with Tim Duncan as his teammate. Jokes have some truth in it, so that should give you an idea.

[@kevinalamo4250]

@@somedude7892 Thanks man! I ended up seeing some stuff about it. I saw them talk about it on the Jump w T-Mac, Grant Hill, and Paul Pierce and Paul said that Doc ended up letting family on planes in Boston lol. I also saw an interview Doc did w Ernie Johnson and Doc claimed that literally none of that happened Haha. appreciate you dude! 🙏

[@vinniechan]

I think it takes two to tangle Duncan was there to enforce Pops will on court We are very under staffed if u look at the number of assistant coach who might have succeeded Pop had left over the yrs

[@thekrazyhatter5063]

There was a basketball magazine saying that as well i remember

[@htatphonelwin9247]

Man that Bo Burnham special really had an effect on Rusty

[@cassiusfelix2805]

I know right

[@gpearce11]

I spent the entire video thinking this exact thing.

[@the010og]

I was thinking the same exact thing lol

[@muiltinormal8329]

@@the010og which special?

[@wumb0yt462]

Fax 📠

[@alfiehaigh8412]

*Rusty puts a ton of effort into the lighting for this video* KZbin compression: "I'm gonna end this man's whole career" . . . . On a serious note though, I'm about 18 mins in the video and it's amazing, and the amount of effort you've put in is insane. You're one of the best creators out here, and the lighting be looking cool af

[@cyp3rma3n54]

I don't think I've seen a guy put so much effort just to trash a old guy

[@arvidbjoerk5307]

@@cyp3rma3n54 he didn't really trash him, he spoke about pop's problems and that he maybe is the greatest coach of all time but is still a flawed individual and by no means perfect

[@cyp3rma3n54]

@@arvidbjoerk5307 yeah I know it just sounded better to say he trashed a old guy insted of saying he pointed out Gregs flaws

[@KollegahDerBub]

its not compression. he just f'ed up the lightning. not his biggest strength yet.

[@bricetriplett759]

"You know how fromer spurs player feel" BRO WE FUCKING WORSHIP THOSE DUDES IN SAN ANTONIO. You can love the coach and the players, I promise all of the dudes that played in San Antonio get all of the credit, at least from us Spurs fans. Idk where you get this mindset that nobody credits the spurs players lol. Even non superstars get all of the love from spurs fans.

[@aguillon420]

Ppl outside of SA will never understand the spurs. Even with the Kawhi situation. There were rumors before the season that Kawhi wanted out for California. Only ppl from SA truly see Kawhis dirty way of playing that injury. Also pop always gave/gives every ounce of credit to Duncan for everything any chance he gets.

[@greenleeflotus]

Let them know.

[@LION0410]

A Spur is always a Spur

[@tommydevine9993]

@@LION0410 unless you're soft ass Kawhi who abandoned the team because he's selfish and didn't want to play anymore so he pretended to be hurt for like 2 years...

[@3KRacing]

Not all outside SA... Im a huge Spurs fan and have never been to SA, I've been a fan since before Duncan. But the OP is right, we absolutely give BOTH our players and coach flowers. We aren't without our flaws... We may be a loyal group but if we are ready to move on from a player we can be ruthless (Pop like 😉)

[@RaulakaMrTaco]

Greg poppavich is the only coach in NBA history who had the ability to adapt while the game and the players were adapting. Won 5 championships in 3 different decades. Truly was as still is the best coach I've ever seen in the NBA.

[@henoccharlot708]

I Remember When Rusty Was Grinding His Ass Off For 100K (Been Here Since 30K) And I Love Seeing How Much He Improved

[@leavonfletcher4197]

I came in during the GOATmentary. Not sure how many subscribers ago it was, but it was a while.

[@henoccharlot708]

He’s just living in this current age of KZbin if you put in the work you will get what you want. He literally went a good while Posting literally every day so he can get the algorithm to go in the direction he wanted. Then once he got his subscriber cushion He decided to focus more on quality

[@theprophet9656]

I was here since 5k

[@ritsuboii2130]

ye he was like posting everyday like wtf

[@daisymerollin3730]

I'm here since 7k

[@adamjenniges9809]

Love how Rusty found a spot to fit in a mini roast of Jim Boylen

[@cassiusfelix2805]

Me too

[@outlawrip-offartist4161]

@Harry Engel I don’t know why, but why take away from this video is if Jim Boylen was born 30 years to late.

[@outlawrip-offartist4161]

@Obvious School Threat I mean this in the nicest way possible your comment is one of the stupidest things I have ever read.

[@bepe4279]

@Obvious School Threat quite literally a school threat

[@demonkingbadger6689]

@Harry Engel going old school, butch van breda kolff, who refused to put wilt Chamberlain back into game 7, and lose.

[@AMHoops]

I loved the deep dive. Definitely do more of them. The shots and editing was on par with the best sports channels on this site. My only pushback would be on Tim not having an ego. He treated media the exact same way as Pop. They both have a humility and an ego. Your point about Pop getting lucky is spot on but I think Tim was lucky to get Pop as well.

[@AMHoops]

@@aki4391 yooo

[@kkcomics5s984]

Please explain how Tim had an ego?

[@karmanbhela7978]

@@AMHoops big fan

[@aaronnilestoussaint5672]

All he did was repeat what Skip Bayless has been repeating multiple times Pop was lucky to get Duncan

[@edwardbrito3332]

Duncan wins multiple titles regardless guy was like Giannis.

[@justindwarika2523]

This video actually took me in the completely opposite direction. This made me have more respect for Greg Popovich. I would love to be coached by him if I was a superstar. Might it is just be my personality but showing up to working, always knowing the boss has a plan in my mind for me to follow and we dominate. Sign me up!

[@neilconen618]

Agreed!

[@resurrectedpa]

True but he's just highlighting Pop's flaws and personally. I still also would love to be coached by Pop tho

[@404castro]

Totally agreed, I would have loved to be coached by pops too. But the point is, he could only be perfect with players who would want that. That's why Rusty pointed out that pops was also an executive so that he had control over the personnel that worked under him.

[@thegreenzeng]

That's why if you are an NBA player, you wont be a superstar. These guys fundamentally believe they are the best things since sliced bread.

[@jonathansykes4986]

its easy to say you would but if you're making 40 mil a year to play and getting 100+mil to be a superstar ... you would be all about yourself.

[@Heart_ken01]

18:04 Pop really deported Kawhi to the Raptors because he was petty only for him to win a ring

[@Joshkiddy15.]

Exactly it’s COMDEY

[@anthonytrevino3191]

meh they were too petty to trade to lakers and they werent getting any combo of (embiid,simmons) or (tatum, brown), kawhis value was shot and knew they were getting a rental. Derozan was the best avail player in trade talks and played a big part in it too

[@projectc.j.j3310]

Deported😂

[@Keezus.]

It’s funny how y’all still think the Lakers deal was real. The offer was Ingram, loul deng and a first. That’s it.

[@nithilanamudhan6260]

If you think about it, it isnt as bad as it sounds back in 2018, Kawhi was a huge question mark because of his injury so they got DeMar DeRozan who was coming off an all nba season jacob Portl who was a lottery pick just 2 years back only now, you see picks thrown around like doritos

[@wellsonyoutube]

I’ve been waiting for this video, AND ITS FINALLY HERE!

[@RobinGorbie]

I'm a San Antonio resident, and I have been saying for a while that Popovich needs to retire. I think this video is a good reason as to why I believe this. Popovich is on the NBA Head Coach Mount Rushmore, no doubt. He has given this franchise five championships. But the luck has run out. It's time to rebuild the Spurs. The structure is not feasible anymore, it is impossible for the Duncan era to be replicated unless a miracle happens like with that era. This video is a really amazing deep dive. Well done Rusty.

[@seanp9439]

Rusty: makes a 44 minute long video essay describing what a self-centered egomaniac Pop is Also Rusty: proceeds to end the video with a clip of Pop saying one of the most humble, least egotistical thing ever lol Nice video though man

[@darrengordon-hill]

IKR!!?

[@devoncutchens3628]

In summary: Zaza Pachulia single handedly ended the Spurs dynasty

[@ef_kej1027]

Singleleggedly

[@tobeymontemayor316]

Nah Uncle Dennis would had made another excuse to move Kawhi to a big market playoff team.

[@flapjack3817]

Finally Uncle Rusty posted this! (He’s not actually my uncle.)

[@sarbsandhu4219]

Daddy rusty 😩

[@leroiarthuroiie2142]

@@sarbsandhu4219 Thaddy Daddy

[@kencarson666]

ye son he’s your mom’s brother

[@alexmckenzie2969]

I feel like once Greg lost his wife, he was a different person. He should retire man

[@kirayoshikage8007]

I kinda have to agree with that something just felt different

[@sidhern8988]

I was thinking of that. I think he would have retired but coaching keeps him going going home to a empty house the sadness I wouldn't want to be home

[@JL_27]

Any thoughts about how “THE ADMIRAL” added into that culture with a young Duncan, ginobili, and Parker?

[@Tycat-bj1sy]

He absolutely had a big impact. I’d assume he was a low ego guy as well coming from a military background himself. Pop also came from a military background and I’d bet Robinson respected that and respected Pop in the same way he’d respect a officer in the military

[@chaddad4046]

Nobody: Rusty: looks at side camera

[@lionelthebuilder]

🤣

[@scubatablemallcop3804]

Side camera rusty is noooooo

[@elizahamilton2895]

I actually think greg popovitches career is a lot like Michael Jordan's. Both were goats of the game (Greg in coaching mj in playing) but like MJ's wizards career at a point they started to decline and became a detriment to the spurs because of old school ideas and poor player management. Just like mj had poor leadership on the wizards becoming toxic to Kwame brown.

[@jomantis5]

I mean the problem lies more within the talent rather than Pop imo. Yeah he makes questionable decisions from time to time and I feel he’s focused more on politics than basketball sometimes but he’s still the best coach in the league. Imo of course.

[@gorilla8811]

@@jomantis5 his talent is great, dejounte Murray has had his breakout season, DeRozan was great, The rest are great role players or young players with flashes

[@CC-jw8cj]

A lot of "great" individuals or "geniuses" are flawed people

[@elizahamilton2895]

@@CC-jw8cj exactly the moral of the story is that everyone had flaws and strengths and to be ad great as popovic you have to have the right circumstances to hide your flaws and highlight you strengths

[@jomantis5]

@@gorilla8811 for sure they got some solid young guys and Derozan is/was great there too, but he isn’t in the east anymore. They’re trending in the right direction but as it stands right now, compared to other teams in the west, they aren’t talented enough to seriously compete, they’re barely a playoff team

[@NoGoatFishing]

I’m a die hard San Antonio fan, and I might not agree with everything you said, but I can respect the effort and time this video took, great video.

[@jaydoublemIII]

Loved this video. Though I feel you minimize the frustration coming from the spurs side dealing with the lack of communication coming from kawhi. You also don't mention the moment the spurs lost kawhi: uncle Dennis becoming kawhi's agent. I agree with your assessment of pop as controlling but kawhi though he's quiet is as egotistical as most superstars. You'd have to be to make commercials claiming you're the king of LA. I just feel that there's a dark side to kawhi that doesn't get talked about much. The ridiculous demands that kawhi and his agent have wanted from Toronto and LA have been revealed and it's no wonder that he wanted out of SA. Pop would have never entertained most of those demands. Pretty sure kawhi and his agent knew they wouldn't get those things either and wanted out even before the injury. Kawhi leaving the way he did tarnished one of the most well respected organizations and has people actually believing that the spurs would force a player to play with an injury. The spurs sat out Duncan in the 2000 playoffs after he had surgery on his acl. Duncan wanted to play but pop refused to let him. They also managed manu ginobil, one of the most reckless players in nba history, and sat him out for his own good throughout his career. Why would it be different for Kawhi? The spurs have proven to be one of the most conservative teams when it comes to erring on the side of caution on player injury. They took fines to rest players. Yeah maybe you're right and kawhi didn't fall in line like pop wanted, he wouldn't do the thing that pop demands of his players "get over yourself." But it's just as possible that kawhi left because pop wouldn't give into his demands and pop doesn't entertain nonsense. It's possible kawhi planned to leave to begin with. It's unfortunate. You say that pop owes it all to Tim and you're probably right. But kawhi owes what he became to the spurs. Kawhi learned how to shoot from chip England. He was pushed to come out of his shell by the big three and pop. Pop told him to stop deferring to tim, Tony, and manu and he had trouble doing it for years. It's unlikely kawhi turns into KAWHI had he stayed in Indiana. Kawhi's current greatness came out due to pops ego and control not despite it.

[@tanjianforever]

I have to say I was about to write up a post almost identical to yours. Until I read yours and realized we would be making the same arguments. Especially in light of all the information that has come out about Kawhi's family and their underhanded, most likely illegal, and outrageous tactics that they have used to manipulate teams period not to mention how much of a pre-madonna he has come out to be on the other team's he was on. Not to mention that the reason they wanted a second opinion wasn't because the Spurs doctors were wrong. It has been made quite clear that they were correct. Because what they said was that he has a degenerative condition in his quadriceps and that other than that injury everything else is good to go, which in the end turned out to be correct. They weren't trying to force him to play, he didn't like that he wasn't being told what he wanted to hear. Even members of the media have come out and said that maybe we should reassess what happened in light of all the information that has come out over the past two years.

[@jackirerioa4971]

thats because this is less of an honest video and more of a hit piece on popovich

[@cirquedufreak6676]

@@jackirerioa4971 I mean, it’s pretty obvious he’s an egomaniac.

[@carlkash3587]

No I disagree with ur take first of all Kawhi had every right to ask for other doctor opinions Greg just wasn’t tolerating it because he got so used to Duncan Parker and manu saying yes all the time Second of all Kawhi was a superstar all stars have egos and him leaving yea it was always in the cards he’s from LA and wanted to play there he won a championship in Toronto and still left that should tell u many things and the things he demanded he was in complete right of only elite top 5 championship level players have the right to demand these things he’s one of them and lastly that whole argument about him being who is because of the Spurs system I find that extremely unlikely his defense was always good and it probably would have taken him little longer or been a little worse than what he was today it takes a lot to be a lottery pick and him and PG Indiana could have been something special until PG injury they were dark horse contenders and if that didn’t work Kawhi and PG still could have founded themselves in LA

[@archyleonlb]

Yea I definitely feel like both sides were NOT without fault and could have handled the situation better

[@aaronryan8979]

Been waiting for this one can’t wait to watch sounds like a great concept

[@Zach2K]

I’ve been waiting on this for a while now I’m glad it’s finally here!

[@bigchungus7709]

ayyyy i watch your vids lol

[@Zach2K]

@@bigchungus7709 w lol

[@TrevanR8501]

17:10 they were maintaining a top 4 seed until Aldridge got hurt though

[@delusionalbengalsfan8332]

As a Spurs fan this is really well made and puts in the minute details that people usually gloss over like Duncan not being on the floor for the game six rebound. Great video!

[@brianthekillabro5534]

If rusty lost some weight then grew out his beard then he would look like a Norse god

[@cassiusfelix2805]

Really now

[@BigPurp9]

If my aunty had balls she’d be my uncle

[@ihavenocommonsensebut2008]

@@BigPurp9 but she doesn’t so she’s not, you get what im sayin?

[@OdinAxl]

If I was a 6’6 and shave my head bald I’d be the next MJ

[@ihavenocommonsensebut2008]

@@OdinAxl he said look

[@greggyp8265]

That lakers offer was never offered, it was all media talk, no reputable source ever mentioned that specific trade.

[@stephendunlop3283]

facts, they didnt want to offer much because everyone assumed kawhi was headed to the lakers in free agency

[@Dre7]

Oh he brought up the fake BI offer? That's all I need to know lol

[@Lisa-rx6io]

I kept wondering if those rumors were true, did they really pass up a better deal ?

[@Dre7]

@@Lisa-rx6io No. IIRC the Lakers didn't want to part with BI, and the Spurs wanted BI in any Kawhi deal. They might have been able to get him if LeBron didn't sign with LAL, but the moment he did, the Lakers backed off their pursuit of Kawhi in hopes that they could just get him for free the next off-season with help from LeBron

[@MrSlashblade]

I felt that this was less of a character study and more of a vendetta against Pop.

[@Kimjungskill]

My God, how far you've come... This video has not only cemented your KZbin Legacy, but in due time will be an ABSOLUTE NBA classic deep dive into the mind of not only Popp, but Rustybuckets himself! Good stuff my guy!

[@jasperbrooks4938]

I think Kawhi didn't necessarily have an inflated ego, but rather he wouldn't be stepped on and forced to potentially be hurt for the rest of his life and career to help the team a month sooner.

[@gorankrznar89]

As a subscriberber from 🇭🇷 for a long time, can’t say enough words to thank you for doing theese videos. You should know about now that we ex-yugoslavia countries care af for basketball

[@saulayala641]

“Going to cleaveland to fix your depression “ had me dead 💀

[@JacksonBlackmon]

“I ain’t never heard anyone say “I’m going to Cleveland” what’s so great about Cleveland?” - Joakim Noah

[@RiceDaddy07]

This is very offensive. Cleveland is one of the best cities in the U.S. Certainly one of the most exciting and classiest ones. No one would choose L.A. or N.Y. over Cleveland. Top 3 city of all time. Over Paris, Tokyo and Atlantis.

[@govindmenon1859]

@@RiceDaddy07 said no one ever

[@Garf2O]

@@govindmenon1859 i think he might be trolling with the paris tokyo atlantis part but you never know

[@RiceDaddy07]

@@Garf2O Atlantis is real. How did the shoot that movie Aquaman, huh? Boom. I just schooled you!

[@newman824]

Great video Rusty B! You did a fantastic job promoting it and I was looking forward to watching it. One quick fact, no coach in major sports history achieved even close to Greg Popovich's greatness for making the playoffs for 20 years!! That's almost as long as you have been alive bro, as a Raptors fan and basketball fan I will always appreciate him as a man for having 'true grit.' When he retires I'll miss him.

[@mphomaja7445]

I feel so invested you rusty... Great job on this one 👍🏾

[@THE_BEAR_JEW]

I disagree in that it's Pop's inflated ego that doesn't work with superstars who have inflated egos. The reason things really didn't work with Kawhi was because Kawhi wanted to go to LA. That's really what it was. He was gonna leave regardless and things going down the way they did really just expedited the process by 1 season. Toronto did everything right for Kawhi and he still left. I'd even argue the Spurs did everything right for Kawhi. Lets be honest, they were the ones who took a chance on him, they developed him, he was surrounded by intelligent players, a HoF coach, with a scheme that encouraged team play, defense, ball movement. AND Kawhi immediately got a title with that team. When you think about it, he couldn't have landed in a better place. Also keep in mind the Spurs were one of the few teams that did load management before load management became widespread. They would consistently sit their guys and allow very liberal time off. They're not the type of team to push you out there ESPECIALLY if you're clearly the superstar of the team. The fact that Parker and Manu called Kawhi out was actually really refreshing. They didn't feel the need to kiss his a$$ just because he was the star. Just like Draymond did to KD, I respect that they were just like "Dude, we've won before you got here." I also don't think Pop was being petty when he sent Kawhi to Toronto. He of course wanted to send him East (usually you want to send your star to a different conference lol) and he sent him to a team that was clearly the best in the East at the time. Remember LeBron had left Cleveland, and the only team standing in Toronto's way all those years was Cleveland. So Pop actually put Kawhi in an amazing situation. If he really wanted to be petty, he would've sent him to a bottom-feeder. The reason the Raptors and Clippers never called Kawhi out on his load management bs is because they were never champs before Kawhi.

[@absolutefocus2749]

this, could Pop have handled the situation w Kawhi better, both from the actual issue, and optics perspective? Yea, was it purely his fault where Kawhi is an innocent angel who did nothing wrong? Fuck no. Besides the Spurs, even when Kawhi didn't wana play, never looked at trading him, and it was Kawhi that pulled the trigger and demanded the trade.

[@THE_BEAR_JEW]

@@absolutefocus2749 Yeah agree on that too. Though I can see why Pop didn't care much about the optics of it. Remember at the time, his wife of like 40 years was dying and she ultimately passed away in April 2018. The fact that Pop had probably been dealing with his wife's health issues through the entire debacle pretty much undermines this video completely. I don't think a guy who has been married for like 40 years and whose wife is dying really gives a damn that his superstar wants to go to LA. Pop had bigger things to worry about. It's just like ok, you don't wanna play here, don't. And again, I think Pop wasn't being petty by sending Kawhi to Toronto. Toronto had just been the 1 seed in the East the previous season. That was clearly a very good organization and a great landing spot for Kawhi. Sure, it's an international team, but it's not like Kawhi had to be there for 4 years... he had 1 year left in his contract, and realistically, he only had to be in Toronto for the season, which is 7 months IF you make it all the way to the Finals. That's nothing. Going to Toronto is the best thing that could've happened to him. If he'd been traded to the West, he would've gotten smoked by the Warriors or Rockets and his legacy now would be much different. The one reason people hold Kawhi in such high regard today is because of that 2019 championship run.

[@TheNamesDitto]

No other than the Lakers or Clippers were gonna get Kawhi. Kawhi got everything in Toronto but left

[@heylolp9]

Finally, thanks so much Rusty these Videos are up there with Jxmy in the mount Rushmore of youtube basketball for me

[@Jamraxx]

Loving these longer projects Rusty! Fantastic analysis and great content brother! Keep them coming

[@Calvin.K.Langat]

Your best work yet Rusty. Dope video!

[@leavonfletcher4197]

Hooooo boy have I been waiting for this!!! I even watched the NBA Storyteller's videos as preparation!

[@patrickfitzgerald149]

Jacob, great video. I was invested the entire way through and was enlightened. Keep doing these types of videos! I know they take a long time, but the time you put in shows and it makes the videos so great. P.S. I watched every post game recap in the playoffs bc I respect your opinions and think you are a smart guy.

[@philmaio2335]

“I am too an a asshole” loved this quote because we all make stupid moves. but they aren’t as picked apart as the decisions players and coaches nake.

[@zoegalang4194]

This is my favorite video so far from this channel. I always appreciate the effort on these deep dives and behind the scenes of nba. I never thought about how perfect yet flawed the spurs was because they have always been successful in the past 2 decades. I hope I can see more of these type of contents it really gives me a lot of perspective.

[@revthadon8868]

Ahhhh shiiiiiiit, here we go again🤦🏽 Spurs fans stand UP

[@cbdcorndog6058]

Yessssssuhhhhh 😈

[@anthonytrevino3191]

roll call

[@bryantwarr1681]

Good luck trying to tank for a draft pick

[@kamran8643]

YESSIREE

[@prajwalkrishnabhat5539]

This isn't about the spurs, it's about Gregg Popovich specifically.

[@shockwtf3285]

I just wanna say Bosh’s OT defense in game 6, 2013 is one of the most overlooked stretches of individual defense ever

[@enoch.naklen]

By far your best ending and video I’ve seen from your Rusty. Great vid and AWESOME take🔥

[@diabang4440]

I like this new turn in content creation for you my good man looking forward to more

[@StephonMaple]

I feel like his decline started when his wife died

[@ckq]

Yeah I don't really blame him he's like 70

[@HuhEman]

Aye dawg das a comment i wouldn’t comment yfm

[@aaronius4444]

Can’t really blame him

[@guerillawhite3083]

That is not at all our business

[@hombredetacos]

@@guerillawhite3083 his wife died during the summer kawhi was pulling his bullshit, people forget how fucked up that was

[@elizahamilton2895]

AHHHHHH HE POSTED IT MY LIFE IS COMPLETE NOW AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[@nah2160]

This was amazing major props to you continue to do you and make cool shit like this

[@taleweaver34]

Loving this docu style format bud! More like this hopefully in the near future from you

[@hughjanus1049]

Giannis would’ve been the perfect successor to Duncan smh

[@CC-jw8cj]

....and he's foreign. perfect for pop

[@MrTimLee84]

Yep

[@RealCGH]

Damn that would be an interesting what if lol

[@RealCGH]

@@CC-jw8cj is he technically foreign when Virgin Islands is a us territory?

[@CC-jw8cj]

@@RealCGH I was talking about Giannis bc Pop said that foreign players are less entitled than American players. Duncan doesn't strike me as an entitled player/person either bc of his personality. Also both of them only started playing basketball in their teens so there's that too.

[@elefantefresa1059]

Pretty good video in general. Cool editing and all, but it's too speculative for me. Maybe I'm not the type to enjoy psychoanalyzing people and speculating on how they feel without actually knowing, but it was just weird. Good format though.

[@yaeevsthewrld3087]

Loved this style of video and I’m really looking forward to more of these hopefully sooner than later

[@ColeFrmNc]

this was super dope , its so refreshing seeing how much you've grown with ur commentary style

[@16montana24kobe]

not going to lie i thought this video was going to be a hit piece that was going to completely discredit his role in the championship runs really happy to see that you made this video both not be AND not come across as that

[@justinhenderson9205]

Literally been waiting all week for this notification 🔥🔥🔥

[@nicholassapphire2022]

Incredible analysis, both on an athletic and psychological level. Great job recording and editing too I'm subscribing. Great work, man. Mad respect.

[@mitchelltague3674]

This was a super well put together video, and definitely earned a sub. I think your analysis is objectively right, for the most part. The core thesis of "Pop is an egotistical tyrant" is well sourced and argued, and it's very clear that Pop was incredibly lucky to have Timmy, and Manu, and Parker, and the rest of the Spurs from his start as coaching until 2015. I've often viewed the 2013 Spurs team, the one that lost to the Heat, as the greatest run in NBA history in terms of "results vs talent level," only really fought by the 2001 Knicks. The motion offense that was near perfected that year is my choice for the greatest example of teamwork in modern sports. The level of unity was insane - it felt like there weren't five players on the court, but one organism split into five parts, all moving with one mind, no errant thoughts whatsoever. If that level of unity was achieved by the dynasty Warriors or the MJ Bulls or the Big 3 Heat or (insert mega talented team here), I think we would get as close to basketball perfection as is currently humanly possible. My point? Pop is an egotistical tyrant. That's not a flaw of his - that's an asset, and arguably a bigger one than his raw X's and O's. It is BECAUSE he was such a tyrant that the Spurs teams played with such teamwork - all ego, all individualism had to leave the door. I'm a huge Timmy fan (Wake Forest fan so it means I have something), I think he deserves genuine GOAT consideration, but I think that while Pop would have been a bum without Timmy, Timmy would not have been nearly the player he was without Pop's ego. That with another, more "NBA style" coach, Timmy probably still woulda been like a multiple All-Star caliber player, but with far fewer rings and probably without an MVP. That the flaw exposed by this video isn't Pop's coaching style, but instead the NBA culture itself, so long as the goal is to play the best basketball physically possible.

[@adrianmaliackel2651]

Shout out to rudy who I’m guessing edited this cuz this is greatly made

[@kelvscontent3986]

This was super hyped up so I have high expectations I really enjoyed it

[@davecartmill5086]

Dude you make great videos but this is seriously amazing like a huge spike well done!

[@muiltinormal8329]

this to me was probably the most enjoyable video you've ever made. super looking forward to more deep dive videos & i hope u put it in the video name so i dont miss them!

[@agentmeh1032]

I was hyped for this since day one!!! LETS GOOOOOO

[@NZFor3]

Rusty produced such a banger that he became one with nature... incredible

[@chicoflakoreact245]

Amazing content . I am happy that KZbin algo' refeered me to both of your channels!!!! That transition into the woods was perfectly edited. Good job to the editor !!!!!

[@MarkieDonnie]

This is great, Rusty. The NBA Storyteller has a similar video about Gregg Popovich. It's nice to get character studies from different perspectives

[@ImBarryScottCSS]

I think Scottie actually has a pretty big ego, he was just faced with the ultimate embodiment of the Alpha. You might think Mike was the greatest but in his day he was like a walking god, he was one of the most famous people on Earth (like top 5), he was a god on the court and a darling in the public/corporate eye off the court. Being subservient was the only thing Pip could do to survive.

[@WtJah]

He had an ego but he wasn’t an alpha male. So it wasn’t that bad. He was able to accept he was number 2 , other big ego stars wouldn’t have even been able to deal with that for more than a season. MJ really was a walking god tho

[@ikevogan381]

I've waited for this greatness

[@andrewobsitnik457]

I'm late on watching these but I LOVE how much fun you clearly have making videos like these! Its awesome! Keep it up!!

[@AnahatB]

Great video! It truly gives u an insight of what happens behind the scenes in basketball which is also important when talking about basketball

[@PhoenixAscending]

I'm glad I found this video. I am a huge spurs fan, and pop is a great coach. He helped lead them to 6 finals, and 5 titles. With that being said, his ego is the main reason they have fallen. When Leonard wanted out, instead of trading him for derozan, he should have traded him and Aldridge for the best picks and young talent they could get. I said this at the time. I knew they couldn't get it done with derozan, but pops ego got the better of him. Had they traded them both for good picks and talent, it's hard to tell how good of a team they could have now

[@darrengordon-hill]

Keep it business. He made it personal. #GoSpursGo

[@vanessaamesty6739]

Now this is amazing! you are SO talented... I hope you keep doing this. I loved everything about it, the ending in the woods was funny =) Now this video made me realise that is very likely that Kawhi would leave the Clippers. The situation is very similar; so much that I wonder if Kawhi is getting karma or there's something happening behind the scenes in the Clippers we don't know anything about.

[@immortal8447]

This is just one big character assassination full of revisionist history

[@zzzsnoozyzzz]

Absolutely incredible video. As a Spurs fan this really made everything so clear. As when all of this went down I was just a young kid loving basketball. Thank you Rusty.

[@JayAugustoSilva]

Leveraging your strengths and doing your best to suppress the negative impact of your weakness is undoubtedly an incredible strength to have. After watching the video and listening to your points I respect the guy even more than before. Thanks for making the video. Cheers!

[@nickwatters2817]

I loved this video but I wouldn’t underestimate the Spurs young core, they’ve got solid mf’s who could make some noise in the coming years.

[@sonfroku3581]

Posted just in time for my lunch break! Nice!

[@zannen24]

Factsss

[@SpursOn3]

damn how long is your lunch break lol

[@DarkEmoNinja]

You love to see Rusty putting in that work 💪😤

[@santobisuwo2341]

This is an amazing in depth video. I liked how you also stated what was your speculation and what was facts. Great work and insight!

[@XxXStoneFingerXxX]

The part about kahwi's wedding 🤣 i can't even xD

[@notpresobama1553]

I just got to that part as I read your comment lmaoo

[@henryrutherford-braun9859]

Something else I wouldve brought up is that manu always had the talent to be a borderline superstar in the NBA and his 2004 Olympics run showed that, but pop basically kept him down and put him as a sixth man for his career

[@TheGeorgeD13]

True, but having a borderline superstar in Manu lead your bench mob while Duncan and the starters sit makes your team really hard to beat. You have no rest from Duncan because then here comes Manu. And then both of them are on the floor in the 4th quarter! That strategy made them deadly.

[@henryrutherford-braun9859]

@@TheGeorgeD13 yeah but manu wasn't a borderline superstar on the Spurs, he could've been

[@juanv.1738]

This gotta be the worst Manu take I’ve ever heard. If you play Manu 40 minutes and let him run a team he doesn’t play half as long as he did. You’re taking like Pop put his foot down on his neck. He asked him if he was comfortable with it and Manu agree’d and was appreciative.

[@henryrutherford-braun9859]

@@juanv.1738 I guess I worded it wrong, I don't think pop forced him or anything and manu was obviously still a tremendous player, what I'm saying is that as important as manus impact as a sixth man was, his full potential was never reached

[@enthusiastofcute]

@@henryrutherford-braun9859 I disagree, Manu certainly could have had better "statistical" success on other teams. But his value has been completely recognized as a legendary member of the Spurs Dynasty.

[@Mattsimpson1991]

You're killing it man, keep it going

[@sonnygarcia7153]

The amount of effort he put into this video is insane. Keep up the good work rusty

[@aidanmchenry3123]

Pop and Bill rly the same dude in different leagues except one actually speaks

[@AlexBigShid]

11:55 False, the Spurs never drafted Kawhi

[@anthonynorman7545]

Yep, traded George Hill for him

[@Probblems]

Did the Spurs tell the pacers to draft him so they could trade for him?

[@Vastatio]

@@Probblems it was a draft day trade, so most likely.

[@jamesmcnaughton9939]

Draft day trade. It was probably the Spurs idea

[@parkerwilson-grooms3363]

Rusty this is the best video youve ever came out with bruh !!!

[@jakelaponder7565]

This is on god the best video you ever made, great work my dude.

[@guerillawhite3083]

11:00 he wanted to guard the 3 point line, so he put out a small lineup. it didn't work out. coaching requires taking risks that sometimes don't pan out. you're reading way too deep into this

[@ryandiaz8512]

that’s what he meant by 1000000 IQ move

[@killjoy3373]

@@ryandiaz8512 it worked for most of the series. Diao was meant to guard LeBron and he did that effectively enough for Pop to trust him for the last possession, knowing that LeBron would take the last shot, as he did. No one knew that if LeBron missed the rebound and second chance opportunity would fall for the greatest shooter of all time (at the time).

[@ryandiaz8512]

@@killjoy3373 ik it seems buddy above didn’t get it

[@hustheposum]

It’s annoying that people don’t get this. Acting like they know better than Pop. Easy to say what would’ve done now, but that was the correct play at the time. They would’ve gotten an open 3 initially with Duncan on the court.

[@tonyschimmoeller]

It did actually work out the defense was good the ball just bounced right to a spot Bosh, the biggest player on the Heat and best rebounder on the floor, he could grab it. Sometimes the ball takes the wrong bounce.

[@Feeling_wheeler_lucky]

This was really your best video up to date

[@huttnerd]

Thanks for another great video!

[@InsaneisEpic]

It's so weird to me that they didnt take the 1997 route and tank the season if he stayed out for 3/4 of the season. Since that precedent was there.

[@perplexedplaguedoctor2946]

Makes sense Pops is like this. I mean he went to the Air Force Academy

[@iankearney3829]

my 3rd time watching this one. prob my fav video on yt - as a spurs fan, this is a unique perspective that I love watching every time. great vid.

[@James30545]

You gotta appreciate the dedication, this man nearly went blind from that light in the intro.