Despite the Spurs beating his Warriors, 113-100, coach Steve Kerr went over after the game and shared a chuckle and a handshake with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and big man Tim Duncan. Kerr, a 16-year vet as a sharpshooting guard, spent a quarter of his career in San Antonio, winning two titles in his time with Popovich and Duncan.
It’s obvious Kerr respects his former coach, as his pre-game quotes show. As relayed by Warriors sideline reporter Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, Kerr’s got nothing but respect for the Spurs helmsman:
Steve Kerr on Gregg Popovich: He's one of most amazing human beings I've ever met. Incredible leader, great coach hilarious guy.
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) November 11, 2014
Kerr on coaching v Popovich: Extremely meaningful. What I owe Pop 4 what he's done 4 me-can't begin to thank him 4 what I learned/friendship
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) November 11, 2014
Popovich, never one to shy away from a little kidding, couldn’t help but note the irony of Kerr pushing defense on his Warriors team this season when it was never really a strong suit of Kerr’s as a player:
Popovich joked about Kerr: "He couldn’t play a lick of D, so it’s surprising that he’s working them so hard on the def end. He has no clue."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) November 12, 2014
Kerr also joked about Popovich’s tendency to rest his guys for national TV games, though Duncan and Co. suited up last night:
Kerr joked he'd start resting guys "soon as I win 5 championships." Popovich laughed: "He's got to wait 'til those guys get over 25 first."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) November 12, 2014
It was all in good fun, though. Popovich thinks Kerr is “a special guy” and had nothing but praise for his former three-point specialist, by way of Bleacher Report:
“Steve was a no-brainer,” Popovich said before the Spurs’ Nov. 11 matchup with the Warriors. “There are certain guys on your team that you know have an intuitive feel for the game. They’re also natural leaders and good people. They communicate well, have great work ethics and high intelligence. He had all that stuff. It was pretty easy to see.”
[…]
“Steve loves life and gets along with everybody,” he said. “He’s inclusive and participatory. He’s comfortable in his own skin. He’ll be himself. You’ll see him laugh at times. He can laugh at himself. He’s got that self-deprecating characteristic that’s really attractive. I think he’s a special guy.”
That’s why, even after Popovich’s Spurs knocked off Kerr’s Warriors, Kerr was quick to shake the hand of his former coach and share a few chuckles:
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