This time around, Gregg Popovich didn’t really have to stress over the game plans to outmaneuver the Knicks.
The iconic Spurs coach was present for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which took place on Wednesday night in San Antonio. This marked his first Larry O’Brien Trophy, a nostalgic moment as it was a rematch of the 1999 Championship Series that kicked off the Spurs’ impressive dynasty.
Footage from ABC showed Popovich, now 77 and serving as San Antonio’s director of basketball operations, enjoying the action from his suite at the Frostbank Center.
For Popovich, this series is particularly meaningful; it takes him back to when the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games nearly three decades ago, ultimately securing their first of five championships.
Under Popovich’s leadership, the Spurs also claimed championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
He was on the sidelines coaching some of those players last year but had to step back after just five games due to health issues.
With a remarkable record of 1,390 wins against 824 losses over 29 seasons, he left a significant mark on the franchise.
Despite stepping away, Popovich maintains a close connection with the team, particularly with the talented Victor Wembanyama, who played a pivotal role in their playoff run, including an impressive victory over the defending champions, the Thunder, in the semifinals.
After a tough loss to Oklahoma City in Game 3, the Spurs bounced back, thanks in part to Popovich’s advice, with a commanding 103-82 win in Game 4, leveling the series.
Ultimately, the Spurs advanced to the finals after an intense seven-game series—something that hadn’t happened in 12 years.
“We lost Game 3…but that was the first time he came into the locker room and was like, ‘Oh, that’s not how we play basketball.’ Obviously, he had the right words for us,” Spurs star De’Aaron Fox shared with NBC following their May 24 victory. “It was the first time all season that he stepped into the locker room right after the game and expressed how he felt.”
The Spurs are now hoping this postseason marks the beginning of a new dynasty, led by Wembanyama and promising young guards Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.
