2025 NBA Season

[danherbias07]

Anyone saw the news about Rachel Nichols?

ESPN removes Rachel Nichols from NBA programming

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/espn-removes-rachel-nichols-nba-programming-n1277657
A familiar face that we are used to is suddenly gone from broadcasting the NBA. Social media can surely make a difference now.
Reading in Twitter, opinions are divided. Some say they should give her a chance to correct what she had said and that should not be a basis for pulling out her shows (The Jump). Others have some bad mouths so I won't include it and yet they are talking about racism. She made a mistake but she can also learn from it. IMO

[Yaunfitda]

Anyone saw the news about Rachel Nichols?

ESPN removes Rachel Nichols from NBA programming

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/espn-removes-rachel-nichols-nba-programming-n1277657
A familiar face that we are used to is suddenly gone from broadcasting the NBA. Social media can surely make a difference now.
Reading in Twitter, opinions are divided. Some say they should give her a chance to correct what she had said and that should not be a basis for pulling out her shows (The Jump). Others have some bad mouths so I won't include it and yet they are talking about racism. She made a mistake but she can also learn from it. IMO

Max Kellerman was also removed from the First Take isn't it? and then Rachel Nichols the next one to get axed. The racism comment or whatever was made like a couple of months since it was exposed. Not sure why it take that look for ESPN to deem it as racism, it is because it's in the middle of the playoff and the timing is bad for the network? But for sure Rachel can find other work outside of ESPN and redeem his sporting career.

[Fredomago]

He was once a Laker and played with Kobe early on Bryant's career.

I would say that he is a decent shooting guard, a lefty if I remember and very quick. So if we hear news of players getting a position whether assistant coach or development instructor it's very welcoming because they can mentor any player on the team itself and give them guidance and tips because they have the experience to back it up. Speaking of Hawks, yeah, it was great run last year, who would have thought that they beat the NYK and then the Sixers. Sad though that Trae Young got injured, but hopefully he will remain healthy next season.

Beating Sixers in their decision game in front of their fans, unexpected but indeed it happened. Most, if not all, believes that they can't beat the Sixers as it was composed by superstars and mentored by a talented coaching staff.

it's good to know that they are keeping the same players giving them the chance to improve and continue the chase of winning a title.

Adding Van Excel, which has that good knowledge of mentoring players and helping them to develop not just the skills but also the mental,
capabilities, veterans players who have a good experienced playing inside the league are more likely to give good advice for new generations of stars.

[tygeade]

^ Yeah, nick the quick was one of the prolific outside scorers of his era, people like Steph didn't exist back then and people who shot a lot of threes were rare, Larry Bird is seen as one of the best shooters of his era and dude avaraged under 2 threes a game for his career, Nick was similar and had 1.7 as well on a 35% career three pointer with nearly 40% few seasons. I would guess that him being an assistant coach to a team that has a player who scores a lot from outside plus gives great passes just like how Nick used to be could actually help them a lot.

Assistant Coaches main job is to give advises and back players up and help them, unlike Head Coach who just draws teh plays, creates the strategy and yells at players when they fail. This is not about if Nick is a great coach or not, this is about how Nick is a great coach for Trae Young, he fits perfectly for him.

[agustina2]

Assistant Coaches main job is to give advises and back players up and help them, unlike Head Coach who just draws teh plays, creates the strategy and yells at players when they fail.

Agree with you. Assistant Coaches mostly talk to the player themselves. You can just see them beside the Coach during a game time but off the court, these people are so close to the players because they are giving advice and practicing with them personally. The bond is there most of the time.

Not just the name of Van Exel but he already has an experienced coaching the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. He's not new to a coaching career and his experience will boost the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff.

[Japinat]

Assistant Coaches main job is to give advises and back players up and help them, unlike Head Coach who just draws teh plays, creates the strategy and yells at players when they fail.

Agree with you. Assistant Coaches mostly talk to the player themselves. You can just see them beside the Coach during a game time but off the court, these people are so close to the players because they are giving advice and practicing with them personally. The bond is there most of the time.

Not just the name of Van Exel but he already has an experienced coaching the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. He's not new to a coaching career and his experience will boost the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff.

Nice one, they need to improve the current roster of the Hawks because they had some good success during the playoffs, if Trae Young wasn't injured, they might go to the NBA Finals, but what's done is done, they have to accept it and focus on the next season and hope that once again they'll be in the playoffs but this time all in good shape.

[Karartma1]

In the very week of Mamba Day, Cryptograph, a digital collectibles company, released a set of 8 never-before-seen photos starring Kobe Bryant as an NFT. This choice represents an investment option for collectors since NFTs have a unique digital value. Tommy Alastra, co-founder of Cryptograph, spoke about this very topic.
Photos in the auction will obviously go to support good causes. All products from the "KOBE" collection will go to support the "Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation".

[Botnake]

There's a rumor that coach pop is on a mission to become the winningest coach in NBA history.

source : https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/8/26/22642318/rumor-gregg-popovich-wants-to-become-the-winningest-coach-in-nba-history

Per ranking, he is already in the top 3.

Top 10 winningest coaches in NBA history
Rank   Coach           Career           Wins   Win %
1.   Don Nelson   1976 - 2010   1335   .557
2.   Lenny Wilkens   1969 - 2005   1332   .536
3.   Gregg Popovich   1996 - Present   1310   .667
4.   Jerry Sloan   1979 - 2011   1221   .603
5.   Pat Riley   1981 - 2008   1210   .636
6.   George Karl   1984 - 2016   1175   .588
7.   Phil Jackson   1989 - 2011   1155   .704
8.   Larry Brown   1976 - 2011   1098   .548
9.   Rick Adelman   1988 - 2014   1042   .582
10.   Doc Rivers   1999 - Present   992   .585

https://ca.nba.com/news/who-are-the-winningest-head-coaches-nba-history-don-nelson-gregg-popovich-lenny-wilkens/87jekxpsubta1cwgxj3dzez8u

Just a few games next season, he will become the reigning king in the history of the winningest coach in the NBA.

[Russlenat]

There's a rumor that coach pop is on a mission to become the winningest coach in NBA history.

source : https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/8/26/22642318/rumor-gregg-popovich-wants-to-become-the-winningest-coach-in-nba-history

Per ranking, he is already in the top 3.

Top 10 winningest coaches in NBA history
Rank   Coach           Career           Wins   Win %
1.   Don Nelson   1976 - 2010   1335   .557
2.   Lenny Wilkens   1969 - 2005   1332   .536
3.   Gregg Popovich   1996 - Present   1310   .667
4.   Jerry Sloan   1979 - 2011   1221   .603
5.   Pat Riley   1981 - 2008   1210   .636
6.   George Karl   1984 - 2016   1175   .588
7.   Phil Jackson   1989 - 2011   1155   .704
8.   Larry Brown   1976 - 2011   1098   .548
9.   Rick Adelman   1988 - 2014   1042   .582
10.   Doc Rivers   1999 - Present   992   .585

https://ca.nba.com/news/who-are-the-winningest-head-coaches-nba-history-don-nelson-gregg-popovich-lenny-wilkens/87jekxpsubta1cwgxj3dzez8u

Just a few games next season, he will become the reigning king in the history of the winningest coach in the NBA.

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

[timerland]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I honestly doubt that's what on Coach's mind, tbh.

Spurs just need to get to the playoffs again. It's really a shame that the Spurs have been struggling ever after Kawhi left... I'm rooting for them to get some new exciting talent along with Dejounte Murray and co.

But if we're honest they're probably out of title contention for a while - especially during the transition period after Pop leaves.

[Ziskinberg]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I honestly doubt that's what on Coach's mind, tbh.

Spurs just need to get to the playoffs again. It's really a shame that the Spurs have been struggling ever after Kawhi left... I'm rooting for them to get some new exciting talent along with Dejounte Murray and co.

But if we're honest they're probably out of title contention for a while - especially during the transition period after Pop leaves.

The current roster of the Spurs is not good enough to be in the playoffs, they don't have a star now like Leonard or a big 3 when they are still winning championships. I'm sure the management already understands that but for coach pop, getting the winningest coach in the NBA history is a big achievement.

For me, it's useless if he did not win a championship, but coach Pop won multiple championships already, 5 to be exact.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_championship_head_coaches

[wheelz1200]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I honestly doubt that's what on Coach's mind, tbh.

Spurs just need to get to the playoffs again. It's really a shame that the Spurs have been struggling ever after Kawhi left... I'm rooting for them to get some new exciting talent along with Dejounte Murray and co.

But if we're honest they're probably out of title contention for a while - especially during the transition period after Pop leaves.

With their current squad they are way out of contention.  They will probably be a team trading players for picks at the deadline.  They need to rebuild through the draft.  No point trying to land the 8-10 playoff spot.  It's all or nothing in my eyes.  Sometimes it's worse to be mediocre than terrible.

[Japinat]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I honestly doubt that's what on Coach's mind, tbh.

Spurs just need to get to the playoffs again. It's really a shame that the Spurs have been struggling ever after Kawhi left... I'm rooting for them to get some new exciting talent along with Dejounte Murray and co.

But if we're honest they're probably out of title contention for a while - especially during the transition period after Pop leaves.

The current roster of the Spurs is not good enough to be in the playoffs, they don't have a star now like Leonard or a big 3 when they are still winning championships. I'm sure the management already understands that but for coach pop, getting the winningest coach in the NBA history is a big achievement.

For me, it's useless if he did not win a championship, but coach Pop won multiple championships already, 5 to be exact.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_championship_head_coaches

For the time left in his career, I don't anymore expect that he will win a championship, I guess his record will settle to 5 but winning a prestigious award which was stated above is a big recognition of his career as an NBA coach as well. We will never forget him if he retires and we did not count yet his contribution in the Olympics where he coaches the team USA and wins the gold medal.

Coach pop is truly one of a kind.

[wheelz1200]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I honestly doubt that's what on Coach's mind, tbh.

Spurs just need to get to the playoffs again. It's really a shame that the Spurs have been struggling ever after Kawhi left... I'm rooting for them to get some new exciting talent along with Dejounte Murray and co.

But if we're honest they're probably out of title contention for a while - especially during the transition period after Pop leaves.

The current roster of the Spurs is not good enough to be in the playoffs, they don't have a star now like Leonard or a big 3 when they are still winning championships. I'm sure the management already understands that but for coach pop, getting the winningest coach in the NBA history is a big achievement.

For me, it's useless if he did not win a championship, but coach Pop won multiple championships already, 5 to be exact.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_championship_head_coaches

For the time left in his career, I don't anymore expect that he will win a championship, I guess his record will settle to 5 but winning a prestigious award which was stated above is a big recognition of his career as an NBA coach as well. We will never forget him if he retires and we did not count yet his contribution in the Olympics where he coaches the team USA and wins the gold medal.

Coach pop is truly one of a kind.

To be fair he had David Robinson, Timmy D, Tony Parker, Manu, early kawhi.  I mean he has been blessed with some great players who would make a lot of coaches look good.  I do agree he is a great coach but give him average players and you get and average coach.  Look at belichecks team once Tom Brady left.  Belichecks genius got taken down a notch.

[goinmerry]

To be fair he had David Robinson, Timmy D, Tony Parker, Manu, early kawhi.  I mean he has been blessed with some great players who would make a lot of coaches look good.  I do agree he is a great coach but give him average players and you get and average coach.

I remember Steve Kerr on that story back then as their hater's believer that the coach doesn't matter if the overall roster is good. Phil Jackson also got in line on that as he holds lots of superstars in Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers and gave him a championship. The other example that got put into that situation is Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra although not on the same level of Coach Pop or Phil.

But looking deeply, players won't follow a coach if they are not reputable so having a big coach really matters as players will follow what the coach said, most of the time.

[TravelMug]

@wheelz1200 - And to be fair, it's 50/50, players become good because of their coach, and the coach gets all the awards because his players did well. They have been rebuilding since Kawhi left, but so far they are unsuccessful.

And I guess that's what the teams are undergoing after multiple successes. When Jordan left the Bulls, then never won a ring again, it was very close with DRose, but then the injuries. Same with the Lakers post Kobe Bryant. It took them to have the greatest player - Lebron to win a ring again. So it's a cycle I must say. But I do agree that with the current roster, it won't take them that far.

[dwyane36]

Spurs just need 26 wins this coming season in order for Gregg Popovich to become the winningest coach in NBA history NBA history, and that is achievable as last season they had 33 wins.  - https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Maybe after he break the all time record, he will consider retiring as he is already 72 years old and that's already more than the retirement age.

I have no doubt that the Spurs will be able to win at least 26 games, although they played unconvincingly last season. By the way, it is worth noting that Pop signed a 3-year contract with the Spurs in 2019. So he most likely will retire after next season, and this achievement should be a great end of his career as a coach.

[Reid]

To be fair he had David Robinson, Timmy D, Tony Parker, Manu, early kawhi.  I mean he has been blessed with some great players who would make a lot of coaches look good.  I do agree he is a great coach but give him average players and you get and average coach.  Look at belichecks team once Tom Brady left.  Belichecks genius got taken down a notch.

David though is old at that time. It's mostly Tim Duncan consuming the minutes.
Kawhi was also a risk Pops took since he is still a newbie.
It's true he had been blessed with good players but it won't work out without constructing a good play.
They perfectly work out in his care and he builds chemistry stronger than any team. They don't have the Kobe type of player but damn, the simplicity of each play made them look like an All-Star team. No acrobatics, just basics.

[Bttzed03]

~
It's true he had been blessed with good players but it won't work out without constructing a good play.

This! I can't remember which game it was (James-Wade Heat maybe) but I remember he had an interview before where he revealed the different plays they did that worked out and gave them the W. Those were strategies designed for specific players.

There are equally talented players in each team but they still come up short because of difference in tactics. Take for example when Steve Kerr went for a small ball line up against a prime Clippers team when they won their first championship. Also with Mavericks sweeping the Lakers and defeating the Heat's big 3 in the finals.

[OgNasty]

Dudley seems a little bummed about not getting another run with the Lakers as a player. I did hear that he’s close to signing a contract with the Dallas Mavericks to be an assistant coach of some sort. I think that’s probably a better role for him, but I was surprised to read quotes from him talking about how the Lakers were making a mistake not resigning him as a player… I think he was probably kidding.