CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 21, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
There are many different reasons why people give back to their communities and do charity work in general.
As for San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich … well, he recently said why he does charity work. While a simple response, it was a solid one.
According to ESPN, here’s Popovich’s response:
“Because we’re rich as hell, and we don’t need it all, and other people need it,” Popovich said. “Then, you’re an ass if you don’t give it. Pretty simple.”
Having spent considerable time and money working with several charities and nonprofits such as the San Antonio Food Bank and Shoes That Fit, with which he partnered in October to deliver shoes to more than 200 students at Gates Elementary, as well as the Innocence Project, Popovich has been vocal about serving the community.
In fact, several of Popovich’s charitable efforts go unpublicized, such as the donation (which sources called “substantial”) that he made to relief in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which ravaged the home of U.S. Virgin Islands native Tim Duncan, a former Spur and future Hall of Famer.
Popovich is quite active with a variety of charities both as a donor and volunteer, from local efforts such as the San Antonio Food Bank to more national and international nonprofits such as Shoes that Fit and the Innocence Project. As Wright noted, these contributions don’t often get publicized, such as his recent donation to relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Popovich is already known as inviting, a good tipper, and one to stand up and speak out for what he believes in. He’s one of the most respected men across the NBA, but for anyone trying to be more like Pop every day, his moral code is a rather simple one that’s easy to follow.
On top of being a charitable man and a good tipper (among other things), Pop is one of the best coaches in the NBA, to say the very least.
Here’s LeBron James‘ take on the matter (via ftw.usatoday.com):
“He’s the greatest coach of all time. I’ve said that over and over and over. You’ve got to be to do what he’s done in the era of basketball when it’s changed so much and he’s been able to have a growth mindset and be able to change with the game. He’s continued to build around Timmy [Duncan] and Manu [Ginobili] and Tony [Parker] and bring pieces in and out throughout his whole tenure.
“It went from a league where it was like, inside/outside. Like every time you bring the ball down, throw it to the big. Then it goes to every time down, pick-and-roll. Then it goes to every time down, shoot a three. Pop has been able to adjust every single time and still somehow keep those guys under the radar. I don’t understand that.”
Whether the case, the Spurs are once again one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and they should have no problem making it to the playoffs. After all, San Antonio has the third-best record in the Western Conference at 24-11.
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