Some NBA players would prefer playing for Rivers, D’Antoni over Popovich

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has led the Spurs franchise to four NBA titles, is a former NBA Coach of the Year, can take relatively unknown players and make them a key cog in the Spurs machine, and year-in and year-out has San Antonio competing for a championship.

Apparently that is not good enough for some NBA players.

SI.com recently did a player’s poll with 134 NBA players participating and the question was, “Which coach would you like to play for the most?” And as always, Pop is overlooked. Check out the results.

DOC RIVERS, CELTICS 22%

MIKE D’ANTONI 21%

GREGG POPOVICH, SPURS 16%

RICK CARLISLE, MAVERICKS 6%

RICK ADELMAN, T-WOLVES 5%

I can almost forgive the 22% of players picking Rivers as a coach they most rather play for. He is a “player’s coach” and has created a winning atmosphere in Boston but how does D’Antoni come out on top of Pop? He failed in Phoenix and in New York with his up-tempo, no defense style of game. He has never guided a team to an NBA Finals let alone win a title. Something Pop has done four times!

OK sure, D’Antoni’s run-and-gun system lends to players getting solid offensive stats but clearly the 16% who voted for him do not know how to vote for a winner nor want to play for a coach who puts winning a title as priority number one.

Now I am sure Pop doesn’t care about this stuff and would be modest about it but once again this just shows how time after time, Pop doesn’t get the credit he truly deserves.

Well at least Pop finished above Mavericks head coach Carlisle.

What do you have to say Spurs fans? I know you have something to say to these players who didn’t vote for Pop.