One of the best NBA basketball coaches in history, Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs head coach, got a mural in Belgrade, Serbia.
In the heart of Belgrade, next to the basketball court near his house, the mural was ordered by former Serbian basketball player Zarko Paspalj.
Paspalj played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 1989/1990 season when Popovich was the assistant coach and they have been great friends ever since.
Gregg Popovich has Serbian heritage and he occasionally spends summers there. He is VERY appreciated in Serbia hence this mural of Pop on the other side of the ocean.
Gregg Popovich has repeatedly pointed out how much he appreciates Serbian coaches. The selector of the United States national basketball team stated that a few years ago he copied some actions he saw from Dusan Ivkovic and Zeljko Obradovic, and now he has confirmed that.
A journalist reminded him of that statement during the US preparations for the Olympic Games! “That’s right,” he said.
Since 2015, Popovich has been the head coach of the U.S. men’s basketball national team.
Career history as Coach
- 1973–1979 Air Force (assistant)
- 1979–1986 Pomona-Pitzer
- 1986–1987 Kansas (assistant)
- 1987–1988 Pomona-Pitzer
- 1988–1992 San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
- 1992–1994 Golden State Warriors (assistant)
- 1996–present San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards as Head Coach
- 5× NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- 3× NBA Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, 2014)
- 4× NBA All-Star Game head coach (2005, 2011, 2013, 2016)
- 3× SCIAC champion (1980–1982)