Adaptability is the key to success in an evolving world of NBA. And the San Antonio Spurs head coach knows it. Gregg Popovich had his eyes locked on a player who had a $22,050,000 contract with the team. The coach wasn’t quite satisfied with his game. So he asked him to stop shooting and change his court tactics. Considering how the coach has five titles to his name, he probably knows what he’s doing.
However, this was a terrifying encounter for the player who was singled out by the coach. And most recently, he revealed the crazy anecdote of how he was forced to change his game under the Spurs.
NBA Star reveals an anecdote about facing a heated coach
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Zach Collins, a crucial member of the Spurs’ roster, experienced a difficult shooting slump that confused the coaching staff and the teams’ fans. He faced a three-game shooting slump in which he shot just 3 for 16 from outside the arc. And Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, once again displayed his distinctive coaching approach by giving the NBA player, an unusual ultimatum. He threw out a blunt ultimatum in front of the entire team during a particularly hard practice.
During the recent episode of the podcast ‘Road Trippin,’ Zach Collins revealed what went down. “We were losing so he was pissed,” he recalled. “And he was like ‘Zach, never shoot. Never pick and pop again in your life, ever. Roll to the rim. I’m effing I’m done. You’re not shooting anymore.’ Like that was it.”?
Collins accepted the challenge presented by his unexpected command. He followed Coach Popovich’s technique for weeks, focusing on honing his rolls to the basket rather than aiming for long-range jumpers. Collins struggled with his instincts while adjusting to the new position that had been assigned to him on the court throughout the shift.
However, Collins’ innate shooting ability couldn’t be stopped forever. He gradually started sneakily throwing a few three-pointers in his practice sessions.
Coach Popovich kept an eye on the development. Unexpectedly, the coach observed the change and not only endorsed it but also actively urged Collins to reintroduce the three-point shot to his arsenal.
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However, looking back, Collins now recognizes that it was his coach’s unique method of getting him back to his shooting. Meanwhile, one of Popovich’s mentees will now follow in his footsteps.
A former NBA player dons the cap of a head coach
Beno Udrih, a former San Antonio Spurs champion, has a new position as head coach of the Wisconsin Herd, a Milwaukee Bucks G League affiliate. Nearly 20 years after his championship triumphs under Gregg Popovich, Udrih’s career has reached a crucial turning point. With two championships won with the Spurs in 2005 and 2007, the 41-year-old retired NBA guard capped off a successful 13-year career. Udrih’s demonstrated his skills on the court with his statistics of 8.4 points and 3.4 assists per game.
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13-year NBA veteran Beno Udrih – a two-time champion with the Spurs – is becoming the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Wisconsin Herd G League team, sources say. Udrih has spent time as a G League assistant coach, Pelicans assistant and pro scout for Hawks last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2023
Udrih’s move into coaching was clear during his stint as a player development coach for the New Orleans Pelicans and as an assistant with the G League’s Westchester Knicks. His selection as the Wisconsin Herd’s head coach seals his transition from player to teacher. He will now be one of the many former NBA players who have successfully transitioned into head coaching positions.
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