Popovich already training for 2020 Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo may seem a long way off to some, but for Team USA's soon-to-be head coach Gregg Popovich, there's no such thing as too much preparation.
What's perhaps more surprising is that Popovich - one of the most venerated tacticians in NBA history - is focusing not on X's and O's, but on his body.
The San Antonio Spurs bench boss is determined to be as fit as his Team USA players in Tokyo, and has recently dropped 37 pounds, according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan.
Spurs president R.C. Buford told MacMullan that Popovich runs on the treadmill every day, flapping his arms "like a crazy Serbian.'' He's also been building up his core strength, and says he can work the heavy training ropes "better than half our guys.''
Popovich may be extra motivated to succeed in Tokyo, given his apparent lingering frustration over being left off the U.S. team as a player back in 1972 - when NBAers were barred from competing.
"I have never talked about that,'' Popovich told MacMullan. "They picked the right guys for the Olympics. That's all I've ever said.''
Buford, though, was perfectly direct in illuminating the subtext there.
"It was a kick in the gut,'' he said. "He's never forgotten it.''