Gregg Popovich, desde el viernes el entrenador con más victorias en la historia de la NBA, puso a San Antonio en el mapa del basquetbol construyendo un equipo cinco veces campeón y desplegando una personalidad única en la liga, tan temida como admirada.
Con aspecto de «sargento de hierro» y formación militar, Popovich aterrizó en 1996 en el banquillo de los Spurs ganándose fama de técnico ultraexigente con sus jugadores y hasta con los temerosos periodistas que le tenían que entrevistar.
Con los años, sin embargo, ‘Coach Pop‘ también dejó relucir su faceta más afable así como una mentalidad abierta y progresista.
Equipos, técnicos y jugadores que estuvieron a sus órdenes durante sus 26 temporadas en la NBA, desde el argentino Manu Ginóbili a Steve Kerr, le felicitaron rápidamente por llegar a la marca de 1.336 triunfos.
A sus 73 años, Popovich superó con esa cifra al retirado Don Nelson, de quien fue asistente tres décadas atrás en Golden State.
«Esto es lo más importante de mi vida. Lo que podría hacer en mi jubilación, el tipo de vino que podría beber, todas estas cosas se vuelven anodinas cuando pienso en el número de victorias que tengo«, afirmó el técnico hace unos años.
Su semblante casi siempre impasible se llenó el viernes de emoción cuando los Spurs culminaron el triunfo 104-102 ante los Utah Jazz desatando la esperada celebración en San Antonio.
«Algo como esto no pertenece a un solo individuo. El basquetbol es un deporte de equipo«, apuntó después. «Todos compartimos este récord. No es mío, es de todos en esta ciudad«.
Popovich lució conmovido en la sala de prensa, en una versión muy alejada de la ironía y el sarcasmo habituales ante los periodistas, que ha dejado momentos televisivos para el recuerdo.
«Tener sentido del humor es muy importante para mí porque creo que la gente que no sabe reírse de sí misma, que no aprecia los momentos divertidos, no podrá darlo todo por un grupo«, dijo el técnico en 2015.
La dinastía de Spurs
Popovich se hizo cargo de los Spurs en 1996 de una forma insólita. En aquel momento era el mánager general de la franquicia y, ante una mala racha de resultados, decidió destituir al entrenador Bob Hill y ponerse él mismo al mando del banquillo texano.
Aquella temporada los Spurs acabaron en el fondo de la tabla debido a la lesión de su estrella, David Robinson, pero esa debacle tuvo la contrapartida de brindarles la primera elección del siguiente Draft, con la que seleccionaron a Tim Duncan, la estrella que cambió el rumbo de la franquicia.
Popovich convirtió a los Spurs en una máquina de ganar, coleccionando cinco anillos (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 y 2014), encadenando 22 apariciones en play-off consecutivas y siendo nombrado Entrenador del Año en tres ocasiones.
Su último título fue quizás el más especial. Primero porque unos Spurs en su cúspide de juego se vengaron de los Miami Heat de LeBron James tras la cruel derrota en las Finales de 2013.
Pero también porque fue la última gran victoria de uno de los mejores tríos de la historia de la NBA, formado por Duncan, el argentino Ginóbili y el francés Tony Parker, acompañados entonces por el emergente Kawhi Leonard.
De todos ellos ‘Coach Pop’ sacó el mejor baloncesto que llevaban dentro.
En Duncan encontró un jugador dominante en ambos lados de la cancha y su alter ego competitivo, a Ginóbili le permitió desplegar su magia y a Parker lo apoyó y presionó a partes iguales.
Militar y cosmopolita
Nacido el 28 de enero de 1949 en East Chicago (Indiana) de padre serbio y madre croata, Popovich ha fundamentado su carrera en las virtudes de organización y disciplina desarrolladas en sus cinco años en las Fuerzas Aéreas estadounidenses.
Capitán del equipo de las fuerzas armadas, viajó a Europa del Este y a la Unión Soviética en 1972 y comprendió que el basquetbol no era un deporte solo estadounidense.
No fue por casualidad que los Spurs fueran el equipo más cosmopolita de la NBA bajo su dirección.
Su amplia red de búsqueda de talentos reclutó, por ejemplo, al italiano Ettore Messine, uno de los técnicos más respetados en Europa, y convirtió a Becky Hammon en la primera entrenadora asistente en la NBA.
En los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio, Popovich guió a Estados Unidos hasta la medalla de oro. «Es la mejor sensación que he tenido en el basquetbol«, aseguró a sus jugadores.
En lugar de retirarse tras aquel triunfo olímpico, Popovich se mantiene al pie del cañón en el actual proceso de reconstrucción de los Spurs, que están cerca de quedarse fuera de playoffs por tercera campaña seguida.
«Olviden las victorias y el récord, lo que es realmente importante es lo que has significado para nosotros en el nivel personal. Cuánto nos has hecho crecer y las experiencias que nos has aportado«, le reconoció el viernes su ex jugador y asistente Steve Kerr, ahora técnico de los Warriors.
Por: Agencia
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