Popovich admits he considered drafting Scot Pollard over Tim Duncan

It's unlikely anyone would be talking today about Gregg Popovich picking up his 1,000th NBA coaching win if he'd gone through with a decision he momentarily considered on draft night in 1997.

Rumor has it that Popovich, then the San Antonio Spurs general manager, had a mind to draft center Scot Pollard with the first overall pick, instead of eventual two-time MVP, 10-time All-NBA first teamer, 15-time All-Star and five-time champion Tim Duncan, whom Popovich has coached his entire career.

Popovich was asked about that fateful night before collecting win No. 1000 in dramatic fashion against the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

"You know, you say that sarcastically but it’s a true story," he said, according to Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports. "It’s a true story. I loved the way Scot played. Timmy was really smooth and all that and so I wondered, 'Is that going to translate. Is he going to be tough. Is he going to do what he did … he’s long and he’s lengthy and he’s thin.' Scot Pollard was out there kicking you-know-what and taking names.

"It was actually a conversation. Now, I have to also say that that notion didn’t last real long."

Pollard ended up going 19th overall, and finished his five-team, 11-year NBA career in 2008 with averages of 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds.