Either Gregg Popovich is trying to fulfill a New Year's resolution or maybe he finally found a sideline reporter he liked.
Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs coach who often conducts terse and uncomfortable interviews with sideline reporters during the first and/or third quarters of NBA games on ESPN, showed that, yes, he is aware of his reputation and doesn't always have to be the bad guy.
ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy was the lucky interviewer on Wednesday night during the Spurs' home game against the Dallas Mavericks. "Lucky" is the operative word because San Antonio entered the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead and unlike other sideline reporters Craig Sager and David Aldridge, Van Gundy is a former NBA head coach.
Right off, Popovich showed that he was in a playful mood, and Van Gundy played up a subservient role that was as good as any.
As Van Gundy was introducing Popovich, Popovich already was spouting off, asking, "What's the question? Is there a question?"
To which Van Gundy replied, "You're making me nervous; you're making me nervous!"
Van Gundy then went on to explain to Popovich that he'd never been more nervous in his entire life than he was having to conduct the sideline interview with the Spurs coach and said he asked all the other sideline reporters how to approach Pop.
"They said, 'Explore your feelings at the end of the third quarter, so ...,' " Van Gundy began to tell Popovich.
But before Van Gundy could ask his question, Popovich reached over and gave Van Gundy a hug.
Van Gundy could be heard saying, "Ohh!" during the hug and then telling Popovich, "I'm glad you're so happy!" before Popovich walked away.
Aldridge, Sager and the rest of the sideline reporters, whom ESPN interviewed in June about having to interview Popovich - especially when the Spurs are at home in the third quarter, as Van Gundy did, may or may not be filing grievances with the NBA over Pop's preferential treatment of his Van Gundy.
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