NBA – After calling him a “clown”, Shaq gives his thoughts on Gregg Popovich

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NBA Gregg Popovich et Shaquille O'Neal
San Antonio Spurs (DR) / TNT (DR)

Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif

With the playoffs in full swing in the NBA, the end of Gregg Popovich’s tenure as Spurs coach almost steals the show. Shaquille O’Neal in particular reacted to the news, taking the opportunity to clarify his relationship with the iconic coach.

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In such a busy news period, it’s not easy to focus attention in the NBA. But Gregg Popovich has managed to do just that. The legendary Spurs coach, who has suffered from a number of health problems in recent months, decided to step down from his post, triggering a veritable earthquake in the league. Which explains the outpouring of tributes to him.

Shaquille O’Neal’s touching words about Gregg Popovich

Popovich was a seen as a big figure for the Spurs players and fans who knew him for so many years, but also for other NBA members. Following the announcement of his retirement from the bench, Nicolas Batum addressed a few words of tribute to him. Shaquille O’Neal did the same this Saturday on Inside The NBA, having faced Popovich 65 times during his career in the league:

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Shaquille O’Neal: I’ve always had a lot of admiration and respect for him. I must say that I regularly played against the Spurs. You know, when I was with the Lakers, we knew we’d have to beat either Sacramento or San Antonio to win the title. And when we didn’t win, it was the Spurs who did. As has been said, Pop had a legendary career and was an even more admirable man.

So thanks for everything, brother. You have my admiration.

As you can imagine, O’Neal has fond memories of the man who so often played the role of his tormentor.It has to be said that Coach Pop knew how to curry favor with his opponents, if only thanks to his sense of humor. This memorable sequence from the first round of the 2008 playoffs bears witness to this:

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Teasingly, the Texan tactician asked his players to foul Shaq immediately. The latter remembers this perfectly, and recalls the context that justified this zany instruction at the time:

Shaquille O’Neal: All because I said beforehand that anyone who used the “Hack-a-Shaq” technique was a clown! (Laughs)

Gregg Popovich NBA San Antonio Spurs Shaquille O’Neal Statements Western Conference