3 "Get Over Yourself" Leadership Traits we can learn from Pop

Gregg Popovich is about to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Wait, he’s not already in the hall of fame?" you ask - more on that later. Hint: be humble. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this incredible article in The Athletic from Mike Monroe on Gregg Popovich’s guiding philosophy: “Get Over Yourself.”?

There has been so much written about coach Pop over the years, rightfully so, I could spend hours writing or discussing one of the dozens of themes covered in the article. (Side note: I love it when the title and article content align and come together in such an authentic way – good job editors). Anyone who has spent time around Pop and the Spurs organization knows that philosophy: no one is that special, everyone is equal and check that ego at the door.

Monroe paints a vivid picture of how the Air Force Academy shaped Pop’s philosophy and mindset he has carried with him throughout his career. Anyone who has gone through military indoctrination or boot camp has shared in that realization.

I want to focus on three leadership traits that Coach Pop exudes as part of this “Get Over Yourself” philosophy: humility, respect and generosity.

1)?????Humility

“I’m a Division III guy not a Hall of Fame guy” says one of the most winningest coaches in all of professional sports history about to be inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Popovich turned around DIII Pomona and taught history after his Air Force career. He could have been perfectly happy in academia, at a program where athletics are a lesser priority.

Even after all the success, money and fame, he’s a basketball coach, yes, but is the main thing he’s coaching really basketball? 9-time NBA Champion Steve Kerr (99 and 03 with the Spurs) said, “you’ve got to know your stuff…but really what I learned from Pop is that the basketball stuff is a very small part of coaching.”

Pop knows a lot about basketball, wine, and Russian history, but he knows there is always more to learn and encourages being humble throughout the organization.

2)?????Respect

Popovich has great respect and appreciation for history and diversity. Celebrating diversity and having an openness and respect for various cultures has clearly been an emphasis for him. Before every team in the league had great players from all over the world, the Spurs led the way, frequently being called the “UN of the NBA" in the early to mid-2000s. He is a constant supporter of many social justice causes and frequently dedicates media and interview time not to commenting on basketball, but injustice. The reporters who excite him most at press conferences are usually those who ask about things that really matter in the world (not basketball). Last year he was a speaker at Jay-Z’s Social Justice Summit.?

One of my favorite Pop stories that didn’t make it into this article happens at the start of a meeting preparing for game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals on June 3. Pop starts the meeting by asking his players to help celebrate a special day, Eddie Mabo Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the Australian High Court’s recognition of Indigenous Australians' (specifically Torres Straight Islanders) land rights. Indigenous Australian Patty Mills, was moved to tears by the surprise celebration and honor. Later that day Mills said “it's a matter of pride just being an Indigenous Australian…nothing that I do or nothing that gets in my way will even come close to my culture and my heritage,” just as being a great basketball coach doesn’t get in the way of Pop showing everyone respect (except the unfortunate sideline reporter or two – in jest) and being a good person. This encounter with Doris Burke (who has at times tired of Pop's on-court interview routine), after losing the 2013 NBA Finals in epic meltdown fashion shows that Pop really cares and respects people more than the game he spends so much time coaching.

3)?????Generosity

There’s a reason finding a coaching or management staff in the NBA not influenced by Pop’s tree is difficult. He is an extremely generous person, with both his time and money. He frequently invites other coaches from around the world to sit in on practices or even join the staff as Larry Brown and others did for him. Becky Hammon (also being inducted to the HOF tomorrow and covered in another great Athletic Article by Sabreena Merchant) and dozens of other coaches are living proof of that. While still a WNBA star, Hammon served as an unpaid assistant before being hired full-time once she retired. Don’t confuse hiring Hammon as the first female NBA coach as generosity, she put in the time and work, not to mention her basketball IQ and qualifications are off the charts, but giving her and others, an open invitation to learn is.

On the financial side, his humility prevents him from sharing much of his giving nature, but at times it reaches the media, like when he left a $5,000 tip for an $800 bill at a Memphis Wine Bar. At a number of fundraising events around San Antonio there are a few mega-anonymous donors and you can bet Popovich is pushing money to causes he believes in. Ken Rodriguez of the San Antonio Report had a great article in 2020 detailing Pop's acts of kindness and generosity including surprising an intern without a safe car heading back to school to Colorado with a brand new car 4 wheel drive car, or draping his leather jacket over a cold homeless man in Toronto, but not before stuffing a wad of cash in the pocket.

Celebrating someone who doesn’t want to be celebrated is a tricky thing. But when that person goes above and beyond and is so much more than just their job title and accomplishments, calling out why they are so exceptional is important. I could write whole chapters on Pop's actions displaying each one of these traits, but tried to keep this concise. The Hall of Fame Ceremony is long overdue for Pop, but it seemed the time was right with Becky Hammon and Tony Parker also being inducted. That and shout-out to Jerry Colangelo for his pestering of Popovich to finally accept the nomination.?

When you think about coach Pop's career and influence as a leader within sports and society, it really is bigger than basketball. And we can all learn a lesson, that it starts with getting over yourself.