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But USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller told Fox 29;s Maximum Sports on Tuesday that Popovich’s resume and past experience with the team made him an “obvious” candidate. Miller also addressed an alleged disagreement/misunderstanding between Popovich and Colangelo during the last round of hiring. “Jerry’s not going to put himself in a position where he’s not picking the best candidates,” he said. Tony Parker joked after practice on Tuesday that the French Federation would be thrilled to have his long-time Spurs coach. Popovich, a wine and food connoisseur, said he’d consider it on one condition. “Only if training camp is in Leon,” he said. “Paris is OK, but Leon is where all the food started.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

By the way, here's what happened between Gregg Popovich and Howard during the All-Star Game, according to a source who witnessed it: in the third quarter, Pop called out a play, but Howard jacked up a corner three instead. Pop immediately turned to the bench and said 'get him the (bleep) out.' That was it, really. No extended swearing or shouting, just Pop being Pop. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Harvey never talked to Popovich but did report: "Spur assistants who were in the All-Star Game huddle in Houston say the incident has been overblown." Howard said Friday night that what Smith had told everyone "just never happened." "Pop was diagramming a play for me, and then as he showed us what to do he kept saying, 'Blake.' So Blake and I are confused, but he keeps saying Blake, so Blake takes off his jersey and goes into the game. "Pop sees me and wants to know why I'm not in the game running the play, so I tell him he kept saying Blake so Blake went in. He wasn't swearing at me." The report by Smith provided more ammunition, though, to those who insist Howard isn't as intense as he should be. "It hurts me, but what can I do about it?" said Howard, who has averaged 19 points and 12.6 rebounds the last five games. "I can't fight ESPN." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Stephen A. Smith on ESPN radio: Then this past weekend, at All-Star weekend – I haven’t’ seen anyone report it, so I guess I’ll be the first. Coach Gregg Popovich dropped a few f-bombs in Dwight Howard’s direction, during All-Star break. Now why is that guys? Because during the timeout, Gregg Popvich drew up a play for Dwight Howard, in the game… except when it was time to run the play, Dwight Howard wasn’t in the game, wasn’t paying attention, was on the bench in his warm ups chillin out socializing with folks, and Gregg Popvich almost went ballistic, and basically was cussing at him according to numerous people I spoke to since this weekend. So, all of that speaks to the focus, or lack there of, that the Kobe Bryant’s and others have alluded to with their comments over the last few months. You can’t have something like that. It’s an All-Star game and you have Gregg Popovich upset at you. beyondthebuzzer.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Stephen A. Smith, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Duncan also credits rigorous adherence to a program of healthy eating and offseason conditioning that has made the 36-year-old lighter and quicker and taken some of the strain off the creaky left knee. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has held him out of games in recent seasons, even when healthy, because he wants him at optimal health for the playoffs. “The only thing we really do, and we’ve done it for a lot of years, is we usually sit down and pick a number for (average) minutes,” Popovich explained. “That’s what we try to stick to for the season. We’ve done that with Timmy, Tony (Parker) and Manu (Ginobili). That’s the one thing we do before the season starts, and we see how close we can stay to that. “As far as what games they play and what games they don’t play, that depends a lot on the nicks and bruises they have and how quickly the games are coming. If there are a lot of back-to-backs or four in five nights or seven in nine days, five in eight days, we try to put some money in the bank for later in the season, so to speak.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan 

The Spurs have been at the forefront of acquiring top international talent over the years, but Gregg Popovich believes the rest of the NBA has caught on. “There are great coaches and great players all over the world at this point, and I think everybody finally believes that,” said Popovich. “It took a while for the NBA to buy into it. I don’t mean the league, I mean teams, coaches, general managers.” RealGM

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich 

While there has been a steady growth of international players in the NBA, Popovich believes the next step could be the integration of international coaches to the NBA. “Absolutely,” said Popovich on the thought of international coaches making the jump to the NBA. “There are coaches overseas that are as good or better than we who are the coaches here.” RealGM

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, Europe 

Tony Parker has been so outstanding lately that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called it "beyond an All-Star level." Does that mean All-NBA? Maybe even MVP? "I think he should be in every conversation for any award that's going to be given," Popovich said. "I don't think that is really tough to see. I mean, there's a group of guys, but he should be in that group as one of the guys that's playing the best in the league." Parker had 29 points and 11 assists in another brilliant performance without his two sidekicks, and San Antonio dominated the second half to beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-86 on Sunday night. USA Today Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich 

Nazr Mohammed started at center for coach Gregg Popovich when the Spurs defeated Richard Hamilton and the Pistons in the 2005 NBA Finals. Beyond that bond, Mohammed has fond memories of the 1½ seasons he played for Popovich, who sounded a bit like Phil Jackson with his unconventional methods. "Pop's great. He's a terrific coach. Everybody knows that," Mohammed said Sunday. "The success of his teams and the respect that he gets from his players and ex-players says it all. He's a good person and a good man. "He did some unbelievable things. Sometimes he comes in and you think it's going to be about the game and he might talk to you about current events. And this is after a loss. You're like, 'Oh. Cool.' I got a lot of respect for him and how he operates." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Nazr Mohammed, Gregg Popovich 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich confirmed after shootaround this morning at the Target Center that his team will open its 11th rodeo road trip without All-Star forward Tim Duncan and key sixth man Manu Ginobili. Both have been ruled out of tonight’s game in Minnesota with leg injuries and are considered day-to-day as the trip proceeds from here. Duncan, 36, suffered a sore left knee and mildly sprained right ankle in Saturday’s win over Washington, when Wizards forward Martell Webster rolled into the back of his legs. Ginobili, a 34-year-old guard, is dealing with tightness in his left hamstring, which he initially strained in a Jan. 13 victory over the Timberwolves. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Gregg Popovich, Injuries, Tim Duncan 

Spurs big man Tiago Splitter is having his best NBA season so far. It's all about staying injury-free, says Gregg Popovich. HoopsHype

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Gregg Popovich 

Gregg Popovich: "There's been no progression with Splitter. People have asked me that before - how did he get like this, what did he do during the summer... This is who he is. He's just been hurt most of the time he's been with us. This is the first time he's gotten consistent minutes. What you're seeing doing now is what he's been doing in Europe for years and years. He's played in championship teams with great coaches over there. This is what he does." HoopsHype

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Gregg Popovich 

The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who is alleging that the team violated the state's deceptive and fair trade practices law. On Monday, Larry McGuinness filed a class action suit in Miami-Dade County, stating that the team's head coach, Gregg Popovich, "intentionally and surrepticiously" sent their best players home without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game against the Heat. McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, "suffered economic damages" as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn't cost more. ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, Law, Gregg Popovich 

"If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody," Popovich said. "And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed." It's often assumed that fans might not see certain high-profile players because of injury, but McGuinness said this was different given that all of the top players were not available to play. "It was like going to Morton's Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak," said McGuinness, who said he bought his ticket on the resale market. "That's exactly what happened here." ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, Law, Gregg Popovich 

Immediately upon seeing Popovich quick-stepping to an exit, a question flashed in the mind of veteran guard Stephen Jackson, whose two technical fouls against the Lakers four days earlier produced both his own ejection and a five-point possession for L.A. “Is that my Dad?” Jackson wondered. “Am I Pop Jr.?” Laughing at his own suggestion, Jackson stressed the bond Popovich’s players feel for a coach willing to take a pair of $2,000 fines on their behalf. “Any time a coach does that, you know what it means: Go out there and play harder, go out there and get this game, even if he’s not on the sideline,” Jackson said. “Every player loves a coach who goes to bat for him. You can’t get better than the way Pop does it.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Stephen Jackson 

Referee Billy Kennedy was caught on a hot mic telling Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni that he was “stalling” the game so that the television broadcast could air more commercials. The unusual sequence took place with 5:09 remaining in the fourth quarter with the Spurs leading 103-91 at the AT&T Center. “You called a full and then you wanted a 20,” Kennedy explained to D’Antoni. “You didn’t have one. You called one in the third quarter. TV went to a 20, thought it was going to be a 20. So what I’m doing right now is I’m stalling, I’m stalling for commercial time. That’s why I’m doing this right now. I need your help. … I can’t let your teams go to the huddle, you know what I’m saying?” SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Gregg Popovich 

Calling Thursday’s sideline incident at Madison Square Garden that led to forward Stephen Jackson’s right ankle sprain “a Mayoral mishap,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called on the NBA to police activity along the league’s sidelines and baselines. “It’s maddening,” Popovich said of the incident in which Jackson lost his balance after running into a waitress during the first quarter of the Spurs-Knicks game. The waitress appeared to be taking an order from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. “It’s an accident waiting to happen.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Rules 

Popovich expressed confidence the incident would spur the league to better control the sidelines during games. “After what happened, I have no doubt the league has contacted teams to make sure everybody shores up their discipline in that area,” he said. “It’s obvious people shouldn’t be ordering beers or Cokes or hot dogs when the game is going on.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, Rules 

He was in a hurry to get to New York, where the Spurs complete another four-games-in-five-nights set tonight against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, a short cab ride from NBA commissioner David Stern’s Manhattan office no less. The last time Popovich faced a similar situation, he sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green home before a nationally televised game at Miami. The league office responded by levying a $250,000 fine against the Spurs. Popovich wouldn’t have the chutzpah to do it again, would he? Well, probably not tonight. “Knowing Pop, he can do anything,” Parker said. “Me personally, I feel great. I didn’t play in the fourth quarter against Brooklyn, or Dallas either. I’m sure Timmy feels great. I think we’re going to play.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich 

Tim Bontemps: Popovich on Avery's firing: “I already made a concise statement about that situation,” he said. “I’m not going to go into it again. [This is] San Antonio," he said with a smile. "We don't talk much. ... We don't care who you are or anything, we just don't give a sh--." Twitter @TimBontemps

Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Gregg Popovich