Gregg Popovich, legendary coach of the San Antonio Spurs and current Team USA Head Coach, has voiced his distaste for the current direction of the game.
Speaking to Sam Smith of NBA.com, Coach Popovich had this to say about the current trend of ever-increasing three-point shooting:
“These days there’s such an emphasis on the three because it’s proven to be analytically correct… Now you look at a stat sheet after a game and the first thing you look at is the threes… I hate it, but I always have, I’ve hated the three for 20 years.”
Though he acknowledged his distaste for the three, Popovich then made a point to express that his coaching must adapt to the modern game, despite his opinion that basketball is becoming more aimed at the fans than the players.
“That’s why I make a joke all the time, if we’re going to make it a different game, let’s have a four-point play. Because if everybody likes the three, they’ll really like the four. People will jump out of their seats if you have a five-point play. It will be great. There’s no basketball anymore, there’s no beauty in it. It’s pretty boring. But it is what it is and you need to work with it.”
Gregg Popovich’s Spurs are currently 10-11, with the team ranking 28th in the NBA in three-pointers attempted.
