On Sunday, October 4, I officially kicked off the new season of the San Antonio Spurs. From noon to 3 p.m., the Spurs hosted their second annual Gregg Popovich Coach the Coaches Clinic. Organized partly through the Positive Coach Alliance, the event began with a brief icebreaker before introducing Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. Johnson discussed the core values of the program and the significance of knowledge sharing, crediting Gregg Popovich as the driving force behind the event.
As Johnson spoke, Popovich was led onto the court by Brett Brown. After thanking Popovich, Johnson invited him to say a few words. True to his style, Popovich downplayed basketball itself, humorously remarking that “to some degree, it’s all bull$h!t.” Instead, he focused on the importance of building relationships, sharing how former players Dejounte Murray and Derrick White had reached out to express gratitude for their time with the Spurs. Popovich stressed that the ultimate aim is to “sustain the culture whether you’re winning or losing.”
The presentations kicked off with Dr. Guy W. Nicolette, Director of Sports Medicine, who emphasized health and well-being as the foundation of sports, coaching, and competition. He highlighted the challenges many young athletes face, including injuries and burnout driven by intense modern sports demands.
Following him were talks from Mike Noyes, Director of Player Development, Assistant Development Coach Jimmy Barron, and Lead Assistant Coach Billy Donovan, who incorporated members of the Veterans Memorial Men’s Basketball team to demonstrate various skills. Coaches in attendance ranged from elementary school to college levels, and the staff skillfully tailored their teachings to be applicable across all age groups.
Though the clinic lasted about two hours, the time flew by, leaving attendees eager for much more in-depth information.
After a brief break, over 14,000 fans began streaming into the Frost Bank Center for the annual Silver & Black Scrimmage. The game featured four 10-minute quarters with a continuous clock, except during timeouts and the last two minutes of each quarter.
The Silver & Black Scrimmage offers a fantastic preseason preview, allowing fans to see starters, rotation players, recent draftees, and camp invitees compete in a relaxed setting that mirrors regular practice scrimmages. It also offers a glimpse into the players’ personalities beyond the court.
For the second consecutive year, Keldon Johnson acted as MC while the rookies entertained the crowd with karaoke. Jayden Quaintance and Maliq Brown performed Drake songs, Ja’Kobi Gillespie sang Chris Brown, and Tarris Reed Jr. captivated the crowd with Bon Jovi’s classic “Living on a Prayer.” Keldon Johnson also joined Carter Bryant for a duet until Luke Kornet stole the spotlight by grabbing the mic. It’s clear the players genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and the new players have seamlessly integrated into this tight-knit group.
With just three days left before the preseason, the energy in the arena — especially when Victor Wembanyama slam dunked — suggested this is shaping up to be an exciting season for both the Spurs and their fans.
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Fan Take: This clinic and scrimmage offer a unique window into how the Spurs prioritize culture, health, and player development, setting a standard many teams should follow. For basketball fans, witnessing these values in action is a reminder that the game is not just about winning but about building lasting relationships and nurturing talent—something that can positively influence the future of the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
