HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jeff McDonald: Pop did not bite on question of whether Jack had been disgruntled. Said only dismissal "what's best for the team." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Stephen Jackson 

Jeff McDonald: More Pop: "We thought making this decision with Jack was best for the group." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Stephen Jackson 

After recurring disagreements with his coach about his diminishing role, the San Antonio Spurs released forward Stephen Jackson on the cusp of the playoffs, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Spurs had threatened the release for several days, but Jackson was still surprised that coach Gregg Popovich carried through with it on Friday, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Stephen Jackson 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Gregg Popovich and Stephen Jackson have been sparring over Jax's role throughout season; disagreements resurfaced this week, source tells Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Stephen Jackson 

The defending Coach of the Year believes the Nuggets’ George Karl has fashioned a strong case to be this season’s recipient of the award. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cited Karl’s work with a team of non-superstars as a prime reason he should be strongly considered. “This isn’t disrespect to his players,” said Popovich, “but LeBron (James) doesn’t play here, and Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. They don’t have superstars, and he’s molded them into a group where they’ve all accepted their role. They execute the system he’s put on the court magnificently. They do it on a consistent basis, and you see the results, how they’ve been winning and the stats they have for their team. “That comes from George. I think he’s done a hell of a job.” San Antonio Express-News

Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, George Karl, Coaching, Gregg Popovich 

His star point guard boasting a medical chart perhaps best summarized as “banged-up body,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has announced no formal plan for shutting down Tony Parker over the final two weeks of the regular season. But Parker’s teammates aren’t going to be shocked if it happens by default. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” guard Gary Neal said. “Tony and even Manu (Ginobili), it’s going to be hard to get where we want to get — a championship — without those guys being 90 or 100 percent. Coach Pop knows what’s best for the team.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Injuries 

By the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ 100-88 loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday, Gregg Popovich had seen enough of Tony Parker. It wasn’t exactly the All-Star point guard’s 1-of-6, two-point scoring night that was concerning the Spurs coach. It was the way Parker was hobbling up and down the court at Chesapeake Energy Arena, looking more like 38-year-old Thunder guard Derek Fisher than Fisher himself. “I saw him come across half court actually limping at one time, so that’s when we pulled him,” Popovich said. “I said ‘Tony, you’ve got to stop, so we can figure out what it is.’ He just couldn’t go.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Injuries 

Popovich doesn’t believe what plagued Parker in OKC was necessarily that, but a previously unreported injury to his shin. “My feeling is tendonitis, something in his shins or whatever, from the way it looked on the court, but I don’t know,” said Popovich, who described himself “very concerned” about his star guard’s health. “We thought he had just kind of recovered from his ankle, so this was something new tonight with his leg,” Popovich said. “I just don’t know what it is right now.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Injuries 

Jeff McDonald: Pop expressed disappointment at Mike Rice-Rutgers situation, but admits occasionally wanting to throw a ball at Tony Parker. Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, Mike Rice 

Still, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn't help but feed this same fire that had burned him just a few months before. "What kind of (expletive) is that?" he told reporters before tipoff. "Are you kidding? What a bunch of rummies. Who would think of something like that. That's below the belt. There's no place for that stuff." When asked for his non-comedic response, he said, "I have too many things to think about. It is what it is. The motivation why? You figure it out. It will be great articles. You guys can write all kinds of great stuff." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich 

Tom Haberstroh: More Popovich on LJ/Wade out: "It is what it is. The motivation why ... you guys figure it out. You guys can write all kinds of good stuff." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich 

So, there's this job opening. Team USA is looking for a new head coach. Pop should get it because, in my opinion, he's the best coach alive. "I hope he gets the USA job," Karl said. "I think he wants it. He's a military guy who, I think, brings a dignity to representing the United States, and he's also earned the respect of the basketball world." Denver Post

George Karl, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

What is the funniest story of Coach Popovich that you can think of? enlace Manu Ginobili: His end of quarter interviews are pretty funny to me. I don't get to listen to them live, but somebody always sends it to me afterwards. reddit

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Coaching, Gregg Popovich 

Doug Collins is endorsing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich or Celtics coach Doc Rivers to be Team USA coach. “My feeling is the two guys who should be in the mix are Pop and Doc,’’ Collins said. “I think those two guys, what they’ve done. Pop, the years he’s put in, what he’s done and plus he has a military background a lot like Coach K, and what he’s done in San Antonio. And then I think Doc. “Those two guys are the cream of the crop. They’ve won championships.'' Sulia

Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA, Doug Collins 

“My feeling is the two guys who should be in the mix are Pop and Doc,’’ said Collins, whose 76ers play at Orlando on Sunday. “I think those two guys, what they’ve done. Pop, the years he’s put in, what he’s done and plus he has a military background a lot like Coach K, and what he’s done in San Antonio. And then I think Doc.’’ FOXSports Florida

Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Doug Collins 

It's probably too close to call this far out, but the early sense from those in the USA Basketball know give Celtics coach Doc Rivers some legit hope of edging out Spurs counterpart Gregg Popovich if, as it increasingly appears, USAB executive director Jerry Colangelo is forced to look for a successor to Mike Krzyzewski this summer. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

With Mike Krzyzewski making it clear that he believes it's time to end his long association with Team USA, there's a near-unanimous feeling in basketball circles that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would be the logical replacement to coach the team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. But a person briefed on internal discussions regarding Coach K's successor told CBSSports.com that another high-level NBA coach shouldn't be ruled out: Celtics coach Doc Rivers. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, Brazil 

USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo maintains that he wants to speak with Krzyzewski in an effort to persuade the Duke coach to stay on board. But sources believe Krzyzewski became burned out on his Olympic obligation last summer in London and is inclined to listen to his wife, Mickie, who wants him to back away from the added stress and travel obligations that come with the job. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, Brazil 

Rivers was in London for the Olympics as a studio analyst for NBC Sports, and he made his presence felt around the team -- staying in the team hotel and eating meals with the players. During the Celtics' run of success during the now-crumbling Big Three era, Rivers forged strong relationships with some of the biggest stars in the game -- many of whom will still be with Team USA in Rio. Also, there's a feeling among some involved in Team USA that Rivers' personality and skilled handling of star egos would provide a more natural transition. "With Doc, I think it would keep the same chemistry going," one person briefed on the matter said. "If Pop comes in, he would want his own way of doing it -- kind of the Spurs' secretive way of doing things -- and out of Jerry's norm." CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reiterated previous comments he’s made about the possibility of coaching USA Basketball’s senior team, saying it would be flattering to be considered before Wednesday’s home loss to Phoenix. “Anybody would feel honored to have their name mentioned as far as the Olympic movement is concerned,” he said. “There are a lot of people who can fill that role. That goes without saying. Anybody would feel humbled and honored to even be talked about in that regard.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball