The NBA regular season has not yet begun but Gregg Popovich is already in his caustic form.
The Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama first overall in the recent NBA Draft and the Frenchmen is already starting to wow audiences.
Friday night, Wembanyama scored 19 points as the Spurs beat the Warriors 122-117 in their preseason matchup, making a number of highlight-worthy plays in the process.
Victor Wembanyama was recently the No. 1-overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. AFP via Getty ImagesAfter the game, Popovich was asked about how his friend and Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Wembanyama has rejuvenated the 74-year-old Spurs coach.
“What was I being rejuvenated from?” Popovich asked.
“Was I in a mental institution or was I depressed and curled up in my bedroom or something?”
The reporter who asked the question responded that Steve [Kerr] had said it.
“Steve’s an a–hole,” Popovich said, ribbing his friend, and began to chuckle to lighten the mood to show everyone that he was joking.
Kerr had spoken about how excited Popovich is to coach up the young prospect.
Gregg Popovich (R.) is buddies with Steve Kerr. NBAE via Getty Images“Pop is bouncing off the walls, he’s really excited,” Kerr said.
Wembanyama has so far been receptive to and appreciative of Popovich’s coaching.
“This is how I also recognize how good of a person he is,” Wembanyama said earlier this week of Popovich, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “He just learns. He just learned to know me, quicker than almost anyone I’ve met in my life before.”
Wembanyama has some pretty lofty ambitions.
“I don’t want to limit myself to what’s already been done,” he said. “I don’t want to limit myself to what’s conventional.”
