J-Speaks: KG's No. 5 Jersey Retired In Beantown

 In the summer of 2007, the Boston Celtics after an abysmal season where they went 24-58 made two blockbuster trades that brought what would be two Hall of Famers to team up with their best player in hopes of getting them back in the conversation as a title contender. Through hard work and commitment from a talented roster led by what would end up being one of the best trios in NBA history captured title number 17 in franchise history. Two weeks ago, the Celtics rose the jersey of the emotional leader of their Hall of Fame trio to the rafters of TD Garden.

On Mar. 13 following the Celtics (45-28) 95-92 loss versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-31) on ABC, they retired the No. 5 jersey of Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who became the 24^th member of the NBA’s Most storied franchise to have his number retired, which now stands alongside the 2008 title banner that he helped win after his arrival in Boston, MA 14 years ago.

When the Celtics acquired Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves 15 summers back, along with Ray Allen from the then Seattle Supersonics in another deal that same summer, they Celtics brought together one of the most dynamic trios in NBA history.

What made this trio work is that Garnett from the first day of training camp in 2008, he said in one of their first meetings that the Celtics offense was going to run through Paul Pierce and Allen and he would be the third option. That he would lead the charge at the defensive end, and KG used his combination of intensity, hard work, and sense of humor  

That selfless act by 15-time All-Star, 2004 Kia MVP, and 2007-08 Kia Defensive Player of the Year set the wheels in motion for the Celtics on their road that led them to their first Finals appearance since 1986 and took down the arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 Finals 4-2 ending their 22-year title drought, behind intensity, hard work, and sense of humor of Garnett.

“Before he got here, we had one of our worst seasons. He was just the injection in the heart that we needed,” Pierce, who had his No. 34 jersey retired four years ago said at the postgame retirement ceremony. “You brought a sense of culture to this team that was desperately needed. You brought Boston pride-Celtics pride-back.”

Dawning a dark suit and a black turtleneck, with a Ukranian flag ribbon on the lapel of his jacket and a pocket square in the colors of green and white of the Celtics, Garnett walked on the court with his 14-year-old daughter Kapri and nine-year-old daughter Kavalli and was greeted by many teammates that he played in his six seasons with the Celtics like Pierce who brought out the Larry O’Brien trophy from that 2007-08 season; Ray Allen; Eddie House; James Posey; Kendrick Perkins; Glen “Big Baby” Davis; and former Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who now works in the front office of the Utah Jazz; and Brian Scalabrine, the Celtics television color analyst, who co-hosted Garnett’s jersey retirement ceremony along with Celtics television play-by-play man Mike Gorman. Some of the current Celtics in Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams III, and Marcus Smart also watched the festivities.

Mr. Gorman Celtics television play-by-play man for the last four decades said at the start of the ceremony said that he remembers being very anxious to see Garnett play for the first time for a team that the season prior had lost 18 consecutive games and as Mr. Gorman put it, “We needed help.”

“I didn’t even want to broadcast a game. I just wanted to sit around and watch this guy and see if he could possibly be as good as he was,” Gorman added about wanting to see Garnett play for the first time in a preseason game at a World War II Armory that is the home court for an Italian basketball squad in Rome, Italy.

Gorman said that at the half of that first game he saw Garnett play, he wanted to find Ainge and hug him.

Gorman said at the ceremony that Garnett was “crazy good” because of his ability to guard all five positions on the hardwood and would “destroy” anybody that attempted to get the rim. That he grabbed every rebound he could get his hands on. Registered about half a dozen assists, a couple of blocks, close to two-three steals, and had even more energy to scream down his opponents; coached his teammates and stared down the referees.

What impressed Gorman the most about how Garnett played is that he played that game halfway across the globe with most of the people back in the U.S. asleep like he it would be the final time he would play a game on the hardwood as he did that entire championship season and his entire six seasons in “Beantown.”

One player who was a part of some of those miserable years prior to Garnett’s arrival was Pierce, who when spoke said that Garnett was the “injection in the arm,” that the Celtics.

“What better way to revive a franchise then to bring the energy that Kevin brought every night,” Pierce said. “His spirit. His passion. His play.”

Pierce also said that while fans had a chance to see him on the hardwood, he had a chance to see his fellow Hall of Famer back as a teenager away from the hardwood and said he was the “nicest” person who can tell the best stories, which he would tell the young players on the Celtics each of his six seasons and how that story would always be different.

“That was Kevin,” Pierce said of Garnett’s ability to bring the Celtics group together. “I mean, he would give you his last and we appreciated it. We appreciated you man. You brought a sense of culture to this city that was desperately, desperately needed. And you brought Boston pride-Celtic pride-back.”

“So, I want to thank as a teammate. As a friend. As a brother, and speaking for everybody in this city, the crowd, ownership group, every player that had an opportunity to play with you, we love you, man. Thank you.”

Former Celtics’ teammate and current assistant coach with Philadelphia 76ers Sam Cassell said in a video message that being on that 2007-08 Celtics was “unbelievable.”

“Your leadership. Your professionalism, man. I’m glad that your jersey’s being retired.”

In another video message, former teammate with the Celtics and Brooklyn Nets Jason Terry said of Garnett, “You were the fiercest competitor I’ve ever played with. But other than that, you were the greatest teammate I ever played with.”

Former teammate with the Timberwolves at the start of Garnett’s career in current NBATV studio analyst Sam Mitchell in a video message said, “Your jersey is going to hand in a place that is hollow ground. The Boston Celtics. So, congratulations. You earned it. You deserve it.”

The starting point guard during Garnett’s six seasons in “Beantown” in current Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard All-Star guard Rajon Rondo, who was the floor general on that 200708 title squad said in his video message, “Definitely an honor to be one of the greats going up into the rafters here as a Boston Celtic…”

The guy who first met Garnett at gym in Chicago, IL back in 1995 and drafted Garnett No. 5 overall to the Timberwolves ironically enough No. 5 overall on June 28, 1995 out of Farragut Academy in Chicago, IL and mentored him at the start of his NBA journey in Minnesota in fellow Celtics legend Kevin McHale said in a video message that he had “come a long way big fella.”

“I couldn’t be happier or more proud of you for your career and everything you’ve done. And so, congratulations. Number going up in the rafters is fantastic.”

The head coach of that Celtics title team in current 76ers head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers said of this moment for Garnett that, “This is about you, my friend. Congratulations.”

The legend and standard of the Celtics in 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell said in his video message that he is happy that Garnett is a “member of this elite club.” How he always “enjoyed” watching Garnett play that now Mr. Russell’s No. 6 jersey and Garnett’s No. 5 jersey hangs in the rafters.

The Celtics front office presented Garnett a replica of the retired number banner on which his No. 5 jersey will live permanently will reside in the rafters of TD Garden rafters. He was also gifted an original work of art by esteemed artist from the Boston area. A piece of the original Boston Garden parquet and an NFT gift basket including five original collectibles.

In his moment to speak during Garnett’s jersey retirement, Celtics Governor, Managing Partner, and Chief Executive Officer Wyc Grousbeck used the words “heart, commitment, loyalty, leadership, championship” to describe what Garnett meant to the Celtics and the city of Boston, MA.

He added how not just in Boston, but the entire world “knows” what Garnett did when he came to “Beantown” in 2007. From the first practice that he brought his trademark energy, passion, and determination changed “everything.” How he played the kind of defense that had not been seen since Bill Russell.

“You brought Celtic pride back to everybody around the world. You carried us forward, and we put that banner in the ceiling,” Grousbeck said. “I am here to say, I think we’re all here to say thank you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

In a tribute video that played after Grousbeck spoke, narrated by actor, musician and Boston native Donnie Wahlberg. In that video showed the parallels between KG and Celtics. How Garnett found a new home in the NBA in Minneapolis, MN and how through long winters went from a kid to the “Big Ticket” and eventually the face of the Timberwolves. He became the best player in the NBA winning Kia MVP in 2003-04 and the best defensive player of his generation. However, he would only get to the doorstep of the NBA Finals in the same season he won league MVP.

In 1995, the Celtics also moved into a new home from the old Boston Garden to the then Fleet Center, where they would also endure long winters and their runs to championship No. 17 would fall short only reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001-02.

In 2007, the most selfless superstar and the star-crossed franchise found each other as the C’s traded for Garnett and in another deal traded for Ray Allen.

“But when you speak on basketball. When you speak on fans and how they feel about their sports here, I mean, it’s a no brainer,” Garnett said at his introductory presser flanked by Allen and Pierce in summer of 2007. “I thought that this is probably my best opportunity at winning a ring and here we are, wearing No. 5.”

“Anything less than a championship than a championship is a failure. It’s what it is. There’s only one winner.”

Garnett from the moment he made his teammates better. He made the Boston fans even crazier and made the roar from those fans at TD Garden louder. And he made the Celtics winners again with every basket, every defensive play, and every word, and action he displayed.

The Celtics in 2007-08 with Garnett leading the way went from 24 wins the season before to an NBA-best 66 games, the second-most in a single-season in franchise history. In the 2008 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics took down the No. 8 Seeded Atlanta Hawks in the First-Round seven games. They defeated the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Semifinals in seven games. Then took down the arch-rival Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. In the 2008 NBA Finals, the Celtics took down the arch-rival Lakers in The Finals in six games, winning Game 6 in dominant fashion at TD Garden 131-92 to capture title No. 17.

In his postgame interview with then ABC sideline reporter, now sideline reporter for NBC’s Sunday Night Football Michelle Tafoya, who is a native of Minneapolis MN, displayed that trademark fire saying, “Anything’s possible!!!”

In talking Scalabrine during the ceremony, Garnett shouted out former Celtics All-Star Antoine Walker, who he had a conversation with prior to being dealt to the Boston where Garnett said he received some “great words of wisdom,” which he took into the previously mentioned introductory presser. After that presser, Garnett said he came into TD Garden and looked into the rafters and manifested that one day he would see a championship banner as well as his number immortalized alongside some of the greats to ever where the “Green and White” of the C’s.

“So, it’s safe to say that I manifested this,” Garnett said.

The seeds of Garnett becoming a Celtic he said during the ceremony were the result of many short conversations with Pierce during the many times they played at the NBA’s unofficial mid-season celebration, NBA All-Star weekend.

Those conversations many times were about both playing one day with the Celtics. There was one particular time when Garnett when the Timberwolves played at the Celtics and he had what he said was a “decent night,” Pierce conversed with Grousbeck about seeing if he could pull of a deal to acquire Garnett.

“We kind of had a laugh about it,” Garnett said about that conversation. “And then when it started to become real life, we actually got serious and the infamous Danny Ainge came and saw me and it was history. Shout out to Danny Ainge in here.”

When Scalabrine asked Garnett about his trademark intensity, he said that his former  coach at Farragut Academy provided him with the tools and the knowledge to get out of his own way and not to fear having his own style. A style that was all “energetic.”

“I’m a passionate person and he [Coach Wolf] kind of gave me the know how to go out there and actually be who you are,” Garnett said. “Let that passionate. Let people see who you really are on the court and I’ve just been able to be like that since I left Wolf actually.”

Garnett also said that the passion we saw him play with on the hardwood came from seeing that same high level of work ethic from his mother, who he saw work hard each and every day.

He also said that he had to learn to properly channel that energy he played with on the hardwood. To properly channel that emotion, especially after a loss on the hardwood or being up at night watching film on his next opponent and not being able to turn that tape off because he wanted to be as prepared as the person or team that his Celtics squad would play against. That is why Garnett said he turned to Yoga to be able to center himself so he could go out on the floor and used that intensity, focus and determination to lead his team to victory.

“If were being honest, I’m a perfectionist, I’m a perfectionist you know,” Garnett said. “I can’t even front, man. At night, it would drive me crazy. I know we’re up here having fun, but there’s been some nights where I haven’t had much sleep and I watch 30 tapes on a guy, and I’m watching and I can’t turn off, you know. It sounds like a good thing now. But at times it really haunted me. But I got it under control and it worked for me.”

What also worked with Garnett in his time with the Celtics was his ability to have a better working dialogue with their management and front office as well as with the coaching staff of the Celtics, led by Coach Rivers as well as his teammates.

Garnett said that his time with the Timberwolves “predicated” and “molded” to when he was dealt to the Celtics, he was able to be on the same page with Grousbeck and the Celtics management group; Coach Rivers and with his teammates, which Garnett said was “easy.”

That ease came from the fact said that the likes Posey, Davis, House, and Leon Powe made him better because when they played pick up in the lead up to training camp, the games were played at a very high intensity.

During those thank video presentations, Garnett heard how during his time in “Beantown” how he made his teammates, coaches, management, and the entire city better, he said the reality was that his teammates, Coach Rivers, and his coaching staff as well as management made him better, and he feels like the collective group made each other better.

“I’d like to think that these players made me better, man” Garnett said of how his teammate made it easy from him play at the level he played with as Celtics for half a dozen seasons. “I’m a very focused individual. I take my craft really serious. I work really hard. A lot of players say they in the gym. But I’m really in the gym, you know. Like I’m really working on mine. And I’d like to think that ‘Big Baby,’ ‘Big Perk,’ Leon everybody on our squad made me better. Thank you all for that.”

One particular former teammate that Garnett, shouted out was fellow Hall of Famer Ray Allen, which brought a serious roar from those in attendance.

Towards the end of the partnership of “Big Three,” Allen exited as a free agent and signed with the Miami Heat after the 2011-12 season, which caused a rift between him, Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo that lasted for nearly a decade.

Even at the celebration for the players who made the NBA’s Top 75 and were celebrated at the All-Star Game in Cleveland, OH in the middle of February, when Allen was introduced and took his place at the circular stage at center court, Pierce and Garnett did not even look at Allen as he came on the stage.

That rift seemed to be put to a conclusion when Garnett said “it was good to see Ray Allen” at his jersey retirement. That was followed by Garnett, Allen, and Pierce sharing a hug at center court, which led to a standing ovation from the audience in the stands.

“You’re next,” Garnett. Ray next,” Garnett said about Allen having his No. 20 jersey retired by the Celtics.

In talking about that moment on the Mar. 14 edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today” that he had a “whole other respect” for Allen showing up for Garnett’s jersey retirement because of the fact that he, Garnett, Pierce, and the Celtics organization had not been on the best of terms and for him to show up for his former teammate receiving such an honor and hopefully put to rest any bad feelings on all sides.

Perkins also concurred with Garnett on the Celtics retiring Allen’s No. 20 saying, “It’s time for the Celtics to do their part…It’s time for them to stop being petty because Ray deserves to have his jersey hung in those rafters as well.”

“It’s time to retire No. 20 because we wouldn’t had won that championship or none of those [playoff] runs without Ray Allen.”

NBATV analyst and former player with the Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns Dennis Scott said on the Mar. 14 edition of NBATV’s  called the moment shared between Garnett, Pierce, and Allen “beautiful” for not just fraternity of NBA, college, or high school basketball, but all of basketball. Not even for AAU basketball.

Scott said that we saw three greats Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to put their egos on the backburner and whatever they went through, the now Hall of Famers can share in a special moment and enjoy the many memories they created together in a building where they etched their own legacies both individually and collectively for one of the aforementioned most storied franchises in “The Association.”

Fifteen years ago, Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics were at a crossroads. The Celtics were coming off a disappointing season where they won just 24 games, a long ways from being two wins away from being in the NBA Finals five seasons prior. Garnett had missed out on the playoffs for three straight seasons with the Timberwolves after helping to lead them to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the Shaquille O’Neal, the late Kobe Bryant led Lakers in six games.

When Garnett was dealt to the Celtics in the summer of 2007, the chemistry and connection between the two was instant and it led to him adding the one thing missing from his career resume, an NBA title and it got the Celtics back to the top of the NBA mountain as champions of the basketball world.

On March 13, Kevin Garnett, through six seasons of blood, sweat and tears had his jersey raised to the rafters in TD Garden alongside some of the greatest players in not just the history of the Boston Celtics but some of the greatest players in NBA history. An honor that was well deserved not just for his play on the court but the connection he made with the city of Boston, MA and the fanbase of the Celtics. To the long-lasting connections he made with his teammates, coaches, and front office with the Celtics.

Individually, Garnett was sensational in his time in “Beantown” earning five of his 15 All-Star selections; winning as mentioned 2007-08 Kia Defensive Player of the Year; four of his 12 All-Defensive Team selections and his one of nine All-NBA selections. But what he did most was get the Celtics back to The Finals twice winning it in 2008 and while the Celtics fell in seven games to the Lakers in 2010, he along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen got them in position to compete for the Larry O’ Brien trophy twice in those six seasons.

Kevin Garnett made a great first impression when he arrived in Boston and had his number immortalized forever alongside some of the very best to ever play for the Celtics and he made sure to let the fans he entertained for those six seasons how he felt about playing for the “Green and White” and being able to have this moment with those fans that saw him be great on the hardwood.  

“I want to thank you all, man,” Garnett said at the close of the ceremony to the fans in attendance. “It’s been real, man. I would’ve never thought you loved me like this. I love you Boston. I love you Northeast. I love y’all.”

Information and quotations are courtesy of 5/25/2020 https://news.amomama.com story, “NBA Legend Kevin Garnett Is A Doting Father Of 2 Daughters-Meet Them,” By Bettina Dizon; 3/14/2022 3 p.m. ESPN’s “NBA Today” with Jorge Sedano, Malika and Kendra Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins, Matt Barnes, Ramona Shelburne, and Michael Wilbon; 3/14/2022 www.nba.com story, “Kevin Garnett Shows Vintage Emotion As Celtics Retire His No. 5,” By “The Associated Press;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Garnett; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boston_Celtics_seasons; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_NBA_Finals

 In the middle of the 1980s, a now Hall of Fame head coach of college basketball and professional basketball hired a former assistant coach of the U.S. Air Force Academy to work on his coaching staff both in college and in his second stop as an NBA head coach. Four years later, that former assistant joined the coaching staff of another Hall of Fame leader on the sidelines who today is known as one of the most innovative offensive minds in NBA history. That assistant took those lessons he learned from his two former bosses and made himself into one of the best head coaches in NBA history. Two Fridays ago, that head coach surpassed his former boss to stand alone as the winningest coach in NBA history.

On Friday Mar. 11, 2022 with a 104-102 win versus the Utah Jazz (44-26), Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs sideline leader since early into the 196-97 season, 18 games into that season to be specific surpassed Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson to become the all-time leader in regular-season head coaching wins in NBA history at 1,336 and counting.

“It’s just a testament to a whole lot of people,” Coach Popovich said after the win. “Something like this does not belong to one individual.”

Coach Popovich tied Nelson when the Spurs won versus Los Angeles Lakers 117-110 March 7 with 1,335 career regular-season wins.

Winningest Head Coaches In NBA History 1-5

Gregg Popovich: 1,336 career wins and
Don Nelson: 1,335
Lenny Wilkens: 1,332
Jerry Sloan: 1,221
Pat Riley: 1,210

“Good win. Obviously, there a different team with LeBron [James]. But we need all of our guys just like they need all there guys. So, we’re thrilled with the win,” Popovich said in his postgame presser after the win.

Coach Popovich, now in his 26^th season as the Spurs head coach is the fourth head coach in the NBA’s 75-year history to stand a top the mountain of most head coaching victories in NBA history, joining the late great Hall of Famer Arnold “Red” Auerbach, who held that mark from 1947-1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Fellow Hall of Famer both as a player and coach Lenny Wilkens, who held the mark from 1995-2010. Hall of Famer Don Nelson, who held the mark from April 2010 until last Friday, when he was passed by his former assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors from 1992-94.

To put into context what “Coach Pop” as Popovich is affectionately called from his players to the other head coaches across “The Association,” he has more wins than the late two champion on the Detroit Pistons sidelines in 1989 and 1990 Chuck Daly; Red Holzman, the leader of the two New York Knicks title squads in 1970 and 1973. The late Dr. Jack Ramsey, who led the Portland Trail Blazers to their lone title in 1977. The aforementioned Coach Auerbach, who helped guide the Celtics to nine titles as head coach (1957, 1959-66) and seven Larry O’Brien trophies as an executive in the Celtics front office. Larry Brown, who led the Detroit Pistons to their third title in franchise history in 2004. Pat Riley, who has five titles to his credit as head coach of the Lakers during the “Showtime Era” in the 1980s; one as head coach of the Miami Heat back in 2006 and two as an executive with the Heat, which he is currently. Phil Jackson, who won the most championships in NBA history with 11 as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls (6 titles) in the middle of the 1990s and of the Lakers at the beginning of the 2000s. John Richard “Dick” Motta, the lead man on the sidelines of the then Washington Wizards (then Bullets) lone title in their history of 1978.

Only the aforementioned Jackson and Auerbach have won more titles in NBA history as a coach than the five titles by Coach Popovich (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014) in six NBA Finals appearances.

Coach Nelson, who Popovich just passed said, “I just want you to know that as one of my best friends in life how proud I am of what you are about to accomplish now, which put me in second place in all-time wins. I couldn’t wait for this day to happen.”

Hall of Famer David Robinson, who helped lead the Spurs to two of the team’s five NBA titles said, “Congratulations Pop. You deserve. You’ve been around forever. But you’ve done a great job too and I’m really proud of you, and happy to be a part of your legacy.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who had two stints with Spurs (1999-2001, and 2002-2003), helping them to win their first and third titles said, “Thank you for everything that you’ve done for me in my life and all the players you have coached over the years. You are just an amazing coach and an amazing man. So, congrats. This is well deserved.”

Duke University Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who Coach Popovich replaced as the Team USA Men’s Basketball head coach after leading the team to Gold in 2008, 2012, and 2016 said of him now being a five-time NBA champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and now the winningest coach in NBA history, “Congratulations my friend.”

Coach Popovich already owned the NBA’s all-time record for combined regular-season and postseason victories, which now stands at 1,506 and counting. He now owns the overall mark for wins by an NBA head coach all-time in just the regular-season and the overall pantheon of head coaches in NBA history.

While Coach Popovich celebrated the milestone last Friday after the Spurs comeback win over the Jazz getting mobbed by his players after the final buzzer before exiting to the locker room, he has remained even keel, even downplaying the significance of becoming the all-time winningest coach in NBA history not once made the moment about him. Always giving the players and the members of his coaching staff over the years the credit for this milestone of happening.

“Basketball is a team sport. You preach to your players that they have to do it together and that’s certainly been the case in my life,” Popovich also said after the win versus the Jazz. “With all the wonderful players and coaches, staff that I’ve been blessed with. The support of this wonderful city, all of share in this record. It’s not mine. It’s ours because of all those people that I’ve just mentioned. So, that’s the joy of it and after that, that’s it. Somebody else will have that down the road.”   

After the game though, Popovich’s players wanted to give him his just due for becoming the all-time winningest coach NBA history.

All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray made his feeling known by saying in the locker room after the win while presenting Coach Popovich with the game ball.

“Coach Pop, you deserve it. We all love you and were glad we’re here to share this moment with you,” Murray said to his coach before the team gave him a victory water bottle shower before breaking down saying “Pop on three, ‘1! 2! 3! POP!!!”

These congratulations from across the basketball world to Coach Popovich comes from the fact that he was more than just one of the best X’s and O’s leaders on the sidelines in basketball history. It is the relationships he had developed over the years with his players and coaching staff, valuing what goes on in their lives beyond basketball and being there for them is just as important as understanding a pick-and-roll coverage at the defensive end to grasping a motion offense.

A perfect example of this was back on Feb. 10, 2016 after the Spurs close win (98-96) over the Orlando Magic, Coach Popovich skipped his pre-game media session.

No one understood why Coach Popovich could not be found until during his postgame presser where he held a tissue in one hand, face wet and eyes still welling with tears saying, “I’d rather talk about basketball. This personal stuff is none of your business.”

What would be later found out about why Coach Popovich was so emotional in that moment was because then intern coach and Vice President of Spurs Basketball Operations Monty Williams, the now head coach of the Phoenix Suns lost his wife, Ingrid, hours earlier from injuries sustained in a head-on car crash in Oklahoma City, where Williams served as an assistant coach on the then head coach Billy Donovan, now head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Coach Popovich stood motionless staring into space while then Spurs Kawhi Leonard, now with the Clippers and current Brooklyn Net LaMarcus Aldridge conducted their postgame interviews from their lockers. Popovich eventually made eye contact with now Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and the two would eventually share a private somber moment.

This moment flashed a glimpse into the kind of humility, love, respect, and dignity Coach Popovich displayed throughout his career as the Spurs head coach, who earned victory, after victory on the hardwood both in the regular season and postseason.

Coach Williams played for Popovich for three seasons in the late 1990s, including his first as the lead man on the Spurs sidelines before he served as intern coach and Vice President of the Spurs Basketball Operations.

Coach Popovich wanted nothing more that tragic evening that to be by Williams’ side and providing comfort in his time of great loss.

“In the ‘90s, it was, ‘Get Over Yourself Mont.’ That’s what [Spurs culture] meant to me,” Williams said. “But that’s pretty much what it is: selfless, egoless basketball, serving your  teammate, working your tail off, having a broader view that’s bigger than basketball and this understanding that we have to work, and we have to do the stuff we do from a basketball perspective,” Williams said. “But we also have to do have a care for one another, a care for those who don’t have what we have and be able to share that with people who are less fortunate. That culture meant more to me than probably any culture in my life outside of high school. When I think of the Spurs culture, the first thing that comes to mind is “selfless.” I could sit here and talk about it for a long time, what Pop’s meant to my life; he and R.C. Buford.

First-year head coach of the Boston Celtics, Ime Udoka, who spent seven years as an assistant for the Spurs after playing for the Spurs the final three years of his seven-year NBA career shared similar view.

“He always stressed the relationship piece of it, and you saw that with his relationships with Tony [Parker], Tim [Duncan], and Manu Ginobili . “I understand that piece and what it does for your team. You carry it on your own way. It wasn’t about the X’ and O’s. It’s how you connect with your guys.”

Over the course of the 26 seasons Coach Popovich has been the Spurs leader on the sidelines, he has coached (counting playoffs) 2,518 games and counting. Including the playoffs, a total of 200 players have played for Coach Popovich and made their have contributed to him reaching this milestone.

Coach Popovich’s Other Notable Numbers
Largest margin of victory in a game: 51 points.
Most Consecutive Seasons in the Playoffs: 22 (1998-2019): longest streak by any head coach NBA history.
Three-time Kia Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, and 2014).
Head Coach of Gold Medal Winning USA Men’s Olympic team.
Most Wins versus an opponent: 20 wins against the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies.
57 wins when overcoming 15-plus point deficit.
Longest winning streaks against an opponent: 18 against the Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Utah Jazz.

While we all know about the key figures that played a major role in helping Coach Popovich rack up the number of wins, especially the titles that he has in Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan, and possibly Hall of Famers to be in the aforementioned Parker and Ginobili, and current Los Angeles Clippers All-Star and 2014 Finals MVP with Spurs Kawhi Leonard, there have been other key players that helped Coach Pop reached the top of the mountain of head coach wins in NBA history.

Former New York Knick and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, who joined the Spurs after being cut by the Suns, who traded for him in February 2004 as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Stephon Marbury to the Knicks. Ward help contribute to 24 of Popovich’s coaching victories. Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks, who was with the Spurs from 2004-06, contributed to 34 Spurs victories, which included a title in 2005. Now Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr, played a role in 152 of Coach Popovich’s victories as well as the Spurs title teams in 1999 and 2003.

“Pop, he don’t like praise,” Spurs All-Star guard Dejounte Murray said at All-Star weekend in the middle of February. “It’s kind of a good thing, but you also want to remind him of his success. It’s rare. He’s a guy that just want to focus on getting the team better each and every day. He never brings up anything to praise himself. We don’t talk about [the all-time wins record], but we’re damn sure gonna enjoy it when we do get [the record] for him because he deserves it. He’s a great man. He pushes all his players, whether you’re the first guy or the last guy, G League guys. If you get a 10-day contract, he’s embracing you from Day 1.”  

When the Spurs did get that victory that put Coach Popovich atop the NBA all-time wins list for head coaches all-time, the did celebrate by giving him the game and then giving him a water bottle shower.

That love that the current Spurs showed Coach Popovich is a shining example of what he has meant to them as former players can attest to. But that warmth and love also came with a tough love approach especially in practice and shoot arounds in leading up to the games, especially in the postseason.

Murry admitted that playing for Popovich is “not easy, and it’s not for everybody,” adding that “you’ve got to be mentally tough” to thrive under the coach.

No one understood this better than Parker and Williams, especially Parker. When he first worked out for the Spurs in the lead up to the 2001 draft, he did not make a good first impression. But he eventually won Popovich’s trust and earned his respect in full years later especially in the Spurs playoff run in 2007 which concluded with their fourth title in franchise history and Parker winning Finals MVP.

Williams, who played 154 games for the Spurs from 1995-97 remembers feeling dumbfounded by Coach Popovich constant screaming at him in practice, only to later receiving a call from him later extending an invitation  for dinner.

It was something that Williams, who began his NBA career playing for Riley and the New York Knicks, who drafted him No. 24 overall in 1994 draft was not used to but then figured out how much Coach Popovich “cared” about him as a person.

“It really helped me grow, not just as a basketball player. But he gave me a chance to see the world from a different lens. I think as a young player, I was always looking at the next contract, minutes. He made me look at it differently.”

This uncanny ability to build solid long-lasting relationships between Coach Popovich and his players and even former assistant coaches is something that did not just happen.

During his time as the Head Coach of Pomona-Pitzer College Sagehens, where he was their sideline leader from 1979-88, Coach Popovich became a disciple and eventually a close friend of Larry Brown. Popovich took a season off from Pomona-Pitzer to become a volunteer assistant on Brown’s staff at the University of Kansas. Popovich returned to Pomona-Pitzer the next season before joining Brown’s staff as the lead assistant with the Spurs from 1988-92, which included current Spurs Chief Executive Officer R.C. Buford, current interim head coach of the Sacramento Kings Alvin Gentry.

Popovich moved to join the Nelson’s staff with the Warriors in 1992, bringing with him the  guard Avery Johnson, who the Spurs cut.

In 1994, Popovich returned to the Spurs to be their General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations after current owner Peter Holt purchased the team. One of Popovich’s first moves as GM and VP was signing Johnson as the Spurs starting floor general. Another one of his early moves was trading Dennis Rodman, who was not fond of Popovich to the Bulls in the summer of 1995 for Will Perdue.

After a 3-15 start to the 1996-97 season, with Robinson sidelined due to a back injury sustained in preseason, Popovich fired head coach Bob Hill, who guided the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals two years earlier, losing the eventual back-to-back champion Houston Rockets in six games on Dec. 10, 1996 and named himself head coach.

Robinson did return but only lasted six games before being lost for the rest of the season due to a broken foot. The Spurs also lost the likes of All-Star Sean Elliott and Chuck Person to injury that same season and that reduced roster, which included a well past his prime in now Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, the Spurs struggled to a 20-62 mark in 1996-97.

That disastrous season earned the Spurs the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, which they used to select Duncan out of Wake Forest University. Behind Duncan, the 1997 Kia Rookie of the Year and Robinson’s return from injury won 56 games in Popovich’s first full season on the sidelines for the Spurs in 1997-98 and those two along with Johnson, and Elliott helped the Spurs win their first title of five titles in franchise history taking down the Knicks 4-1 in the 1999 Finals.

The Spurs won that epic Game 5 at Madison Square Garden behind a baseline jumper by Johnson in the closing minute of regulation that won it for the Spurs 78-77.  

While the Spurs hit the jackpot on their side in the 1987 and 1990, earing the No. 1 overall pick in those respective Draft Lotteries to select Robinson and Duncan, the Spurs’ continued success has been their ability to find diamonds in the rough in the later part of the First-Round and in the Second-Round of the draft.

“When I sit back, which I’m able to do now because I’ve been here so long and I think about these guys and the teams we’ve had, I think the memory I’ll enjoy the most is when they celebrate each other after [winning] each championship,” Coach Popovich said back in 2014, the Spurs fifth title.

“I’ve got a lot of pictures that I’ve framed at the house and most of them involved a great photo of them making a play and celebrating with each other because that joy is pure. There’s nothing else like it.”

Through those later rounds of the draft, they found the likes of now former Spurs in current Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill; current Denver Nuggets’ guard Bryn Forbes; former Spur Tiago Splitter; future Hall of Famers in aforementioned Parker (No. 28 overall pick in 2001) and Ginobili (No. 57 overall pick in 1999); and Kawhi Leonard, whose draft rights were acquired 2011 from the Pacers in exchange for Hill. Six Junes back, the Spurs selected Murray (No. 29 overall in 2016) out of the University of Washington and he has ascended into a first-time All-Star this season and the Spurs floor general for years to come. In recent drafts, the Spurs have drafted the likes of Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Joshua Primo to be their building blocks moving forward.

Nearly 35 years ago, two the NBA most innovative and successful head coaches of all-time had on their respective staffs at Kansas University in college and Golden State, and with San Antonio Spurs three decades ago an assistant coach who took what he learned in his time with them and carved his own path into being not just one of the best coaches in NBA history, but a multiple-time NBA champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and now the all-time winningest coach in not just the regular-season, but in the postseason as well as the regular-season and postseason combined. Along the way, he created long-lasting friendship and relationships that go beyond basketball.

The story of the NBA now 75 years old and counting will now and forever consist of a chapter about Gregg Popovich, one of the best leaders on an NBA sideline who had an ability to get the best out of his players. Who along with the plethora of assistant coaches and front office staff of the Spurs that helped them become a model franchise that everyone sees as the shining example of what an exceptional team and organization looks and works as. More than that, Coach Popovich valued each player and each coach as equal in a way that they were a part of the team and that their contribution big or small had just worth as important.

“I think it’s a huge moment for [the] NBA. He’s the greatest coach that has ever been in my opinion,” Walker IV said. “To be able to be a part of such a huge accomplishment, it’s exciting.”

“He’s one of the most humble dudes, and he doesn’t want all the recognition. But he deserves it. Pop is kind of like the Michael Jordan of coaches. His name kind of resonates without you even knowing who he is.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 3/8/2022 5 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Zubin Mehenti and John Anderson; 3/12/2022 2 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” from Los Angeles, CA with Neil Everett, and Stan Verrett; 3/12/2022 www.nba.com story, “Gregg Popovich Passes Don Nelson For No. 1 All-Time In Coaching Wins,” By Michael C. Wright; 3/14/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today,” ESPN with Jorge Sedano, Chiney Ogwumike Kendrick Perkins, Ramona Shelburne, Matt Barnes, Malika Andrews, Kendra Andrews, and Michael Wilbon; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Popovich.  

J-Speaks: The Return of The Other Splash Brother

 

June 13, 2019 was not only the final game at Oracle Arena as well as the conclusion of the Golden State Warriors reign as back-to-back NBA champions it was this moment where they lost one half of their “Splash Brothers” dynamic backcourt to a devastating knee injury. As he was about to make his return, said “Splash Brother” suffered a ruptured Achilles just before the start of training camp a season ago. On Sunday after months of grueling rehabilitation, the Warriors got the other half of the “Splash Brothers” back.

After 941 days away from basketball because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a torn right Achilles, Klay Thompson returned to the hardwood to score 17 points on 7/18 from the field, including 3/8 from three-point range in 20 minutes the Warriors (30-9) 96-82 win on Sunday night versus the Cleveland Cavaliers (22-18).

When Thompson name was announced during the introduction of the starting lineups at to the faithful at Chase Center, everyone stood up with their phones flashing in the background.

Thompson broke the seal on the contest by scoring on a running layup 40 seconds into the game, which was a sign that the five-time All-Star was feeling good after not seeing any action in his team’s last 175 regular season games.

“I was so excited I saw a lane to the basket that I just took the opportunity,” Thompson said. “After that I thought it was going to be one of those nights where I might be unconscious. I did not shoot as well as I wanted to but I’m so happy I can even look at the stat sheet and see my name there. It’s been a long run. I’m not going to say it’s equivalent to winning a championship but it was pretty close.”

What really excited those in attendance on Sunday night was late in the second quarter when Thompson drove around a Cavaliers defender near the three-point line and scored on a one-handed throwdown dunk over center Jarrett Allen and Thompson snarled and pounded his chest as he walked back to midcourt.

“When those lights are the brightest, I just felt bouncy,” Thompson said in his postgame presser about that play. “It felt so good to through that down. I did not expect that. I’m very pleased with my efforts tonight.”

“I missed some shots I always make but I’m just happy to be able like I can say that because I couldn’t say that the last two years.”  

After working on a stationary bike before the start of the second half, Thompson began the third quarter making consecutive three-pointers, including one that put him over 12,000 career points and 1,800 career made three-pointers, becoming the second fastest in NBA history, 616 games to make 1,800 threes.

To go along with his 17 points, Thompson added three boards, an assist and two steals in 20 minutes and when he left the floor to a thunderous applause and ovation from those at the Chase Center, who also chanted “Klay! Klay!”

To put into context how big of a night this was for Thompson, Draymond Green, who has been a teammate of Thompson’s and Stephen Curry’s for a decade convinced the Warriors coaching staff to be introduced with the starting lineup, despite the fact that he was not going to play because he injured his calf during pregame warm-ups.

That happened and Green seconds into the game was subbed out.

That is the kind of respect Klay Thompson has from his team, especially the other two pillars of it in Curry and Green, who led the Warriors to five consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2015-19) and three championships (2015, 2017, and 2018).

The last time those three shared the court together was as mentioned was Game 6 of the 2019 Finals at Oracle Arena versus the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors, where Thompson on a breakaway drive to the basket tore the ACL in his left knee.

In an interview with NBATV’s Dennis Scott prior to his return over the weekend, Thompson said of that moment that he felt his knee shift but did not know the severity that he tore his ACL because he never had anything like that happen to him in his basketball life.

“I remember my knee not hurting until the drive home,” Thompson said to Scott. “When that all wore off, I was diagnosed with a torn ACL.”

“It was such a long run. Five straight years in The Finals. Hundreds of basketball games played in that time, and I accepted I could take a year off and get my body right.”

In November 2020 though, Thompson tore his right Achilles, which he told Scott was “so unexpected” because he was 13 months out of rehabbing his left ACL and just a matter of days from the start of training camp, and when he went for a jump shot, he tore is Achilles.

“When you get hurt a couple of times, you think, “why me a lot?”

“You can’t hold on to that stuff,” Thompson added. “I accepted my reality as time went on because you only got one option, and that’s either dig out of the whole that’s you’re in. And I give myself a lot of credit for fighting through the last 13 months to get to where I’m at now. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

That is not to say that there were a plethora of tough moments Thompson had to fight through. He said to Scott that he never lost confidence that he would get return to the floor but said he did not know the type of player he would be.

The rehabilitation that Thompson had to do, he said that it was hard to see in the early and middle stages of rehabbing of him being the player he once was.

That loud roar Thompson heard though when his name was introduced during the aforementioned starting lineup intros, he said those days rehabbing on a squat rack or on the shuttle board worth “every single moment.”

“It was a very special moment,” Thompson said of being introduced as a starter again. “I’m just so grateful to just compete again,” Thompson said. “It’s been a hard road but I’m just also proud of myself for persevering. It’s not the equivalent to winning a championship. But man, it was pretty freaking close.”   

What Thompson has endured in trying to get back to the hardwood over the last 30 months has given him a greater appreciation for the opportunity to do something that a majority of  people get the chance to do, making a living playing a professional sport.

The Warriors not only saw their reign as NBA champions conclude but they lost Thompson for the entire 2019-20 season.

Following Thompson’s injury on that night, Curry was on the other end of the floor slamming the basketball out of frustration and then sat on the floor in sheer sadness about what just happened to his teammate.  

As happy as Thompson was to be back on the floor after a two-year absence, Curry and head coach Steve Kerr were just as happy to have Thompson back on the court.

A great deal has changed though with not just the Warriors, but the landscape as well as the entire world has changed completely since the last time Thompson was on the hardwood in the late spring of 2019.

Of the eight Raptors who played in that title clinching Game 6 win at Oracle Arena, only Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet remain.

Thompson’s former teammate in perennial All-Star and 2014 Kia MVP Kevin Durant, who was the Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018, who suffered his own right Achilles tear in Game of the 2019 Finals at the Raptors bolted in free agency to join the Brooklyn Nets that summer, teaming up with fellow perennial All-Star, NBA champion, good friend, and former Boston Celtic guard Kyrie Irving and eventually former Houston Rockets perennial All-Star and 2018 Kia MVP James Harden.

Thompson’s last game came six months before global scientist identified the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which three months later put a pause on not just the 2019-20 NBA season but the entire sports world and the world at large.

What followed was unprecedented weirdness. Profound sadness, especially for the loss of five-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

That was followed by unrelenting pleas for social justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis, MN police officer.

We had the conclusion of the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando, FL, which experienced a brief shut down after another African American was shot at the hands of law enforcement in Wisconsin. When play eventually resumed, the LeBron James, Anthony Davis led Lakers won their 17^th title in franchise history in a mostly empty gym in October 2020.

The NBA as well as pro sports eventually welcomed back fans to arenas in 2020-21 and the Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday led Milwaukee Bucks won their second title in franchise history, their first in five decades.

Since Thompson last broke a serious game sweat on the hardwood, the likes of Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant broke into the NBA respectably with the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, and Memphis Grizzlies.

On the NBA coaching front, 23 teams have had new leaders on their sidelines.

As for the Warriors, they have moved to a new building, the aforementioned Chase Center and dressed 36 players. Curry was No. 3 on the all-time three-pointers made list when he and Thompson last played together.

Thompson asked Curry after a Warriors victory, “How much longer until you break Ray Allen’s three-point record?” 

Curry became the all-time leader in three-pointers made on Dec. 14, 2021 in the Warriors 105-96 win at the New York Knicks (19-21). 

Curry, who had 28 points versus the Cavaliers said to ESPN's Malika Andrews after the win that being reunited on the floor with Thompson was "special." 

"I had goosebumps before the game. The starting lineup. The crowd's reaction. Klay's been a big ball of energy over these last like 7-10 days just looking just looking forward to this moment and it was everything," Curry added. "We feed off of that. It was great to see him make his first shot. Get a dunk. Just reassert himself on the floor. It was awesome to see." 

On that dunk, Curry said to Andrews that being able to dunk was the last thing he would be able to showcase. That it was going to take a while for him to do that. It took just nine minutes into his first game back for Thompson to show that he had that ability to dunk again.   

On that night though in New York City, Thompson was not there to witness Curry etched his name once again into the NBA record books as rehabbing to get back on the floor.

When asked by a reporter how much of a challenge it has been rehabbing first his torn ACL and then his Achilles, Thompson said it is “way harder” than any other basketball game he has ever had to play.

That the “mental toll” is no fun at all. That you are always playing guessing games of whether you will ever be the same player that you once were.

On top of that, no one in professional sports, let alone the NBA has attempted to try to do what Thompson is attempting. To come back after two devastating injuries.

The other silver lining is that Thompson is coming back to a team that is close to the championship caliber squads he was a part of the last time he was fully healthy.

A very deep, talented, high character, motivated, focused team whose at the top of the West, with the only goal being to win a championship. Which Thompson said made it even harder to sit on the sidelines and not be a part of it. Those few occasions during Warriors games Thompson can be seen stoically somber on the bench, at times having a towel over his head during games. But made him work with a serious vigor in his pregame workouts as he rehabbed to get back to join his teammates.”

Thompson took that same focus, along with his teammate James Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020 draft whose also rehabbing a knee injury of his own in there rehab assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s G League affiliate.  

“It’s really rough having to sit there and watch because I enjoy playing so much,” Thompson said to Scott. “I’m used to being that guy whose always in the lineup and fast forward to now and I’m so proud of the way these guys played this year. It’s really incredible. Best record in the league or close to it.”

“It’s super inspiring for me to come back to a team that wants to win the championship. That’s super exciting. I can’t wait to get out there and help these guys.”

Then there’s the motivation of proving he should have been named to the NBA’s 75^th Anniversary list, which Thompson did not make when it was announced back in late October, which Curry did make.

Thompson said to Scott that not being named one of the top 75 players in NBA history did bother him at the time because of the body of work he had put forward along with doing things on the hardwood that had never been done before.  

On Jan. 23, 2015 versus the Sacramento Kings, Thompson set the NBA record for points in a quarter with 37 on a perfect 13/13 from the field, which included making nine threes.

Dec. 5, 2016 versus the Indiana Pacers, Thompson scored his career-high 60 points in 29 minutes, the fewest minutes that a player needed to register 60 points in the 24-second shot clock era (1954-55). Thompson scored 40 of those 60 points in the first half and did not play in the fourth quarter.

Oct. 29, 2018 at the Chicago Bulls, Thompson made a single-game NBA record 14 three-pointers in just three quarters of work.

Jan. 21, 2019 at Los Angeles Lakers, Thompson made his first 10 three-pointers, which according to Elias Sports Bureau set an NBA record.

Thompson told Scott though that not making the Top 75 is no longer important to him and that the only things matters to him is winning.

“Numbers, all that’s cool. But banners hang forever and by any means necessary, I want to get back there and do it again. And we have the team to do it,” Thompson said. “Snubbed from that list and win a championship, that, inspires me every day.”

Three years ago, the Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson were looking to remain atop the NBA mountain. In the closing moments of Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, the Warriors were dethroned as reigning back-to-back champions and lost Thompson not just for the season before to a torn ACL in his left but also last season with a torn right Achilles.

On the verge of his 32^nd birthday, Klay Thompson on Sunday night took the first step of what he hopes is a storybook comeback where he comes as close to the dynamic sharpshooter and clampdown defender he once was. But understands it will not happen right away.

“I don’t’ have any expectations for my play this year,” Thompson said of what he expects from now until the end of this season. “I’m going into this year with a clean slate and all I’m telling myself to do is play hard every night. Play unselfish, be aggressive.”

“I’m shooting the ball phenomenally right now. Now I know it’s going to take time to make 14 threes in a game or 10 in a row. Whatever that is. I will never lose faith in my jumper. It was always my bread and butter.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/3/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Matt Barnes, Ramona Shelburne, Adrian Wojnarowski, and Marc J. Spears; 1/9/2022 8 p.m. NBATV’s “Pregame Show,” presented by Carmax With Jared Greenberg, Greg Anthony, and Steve Smith, and Dennis Scott; 1/10/2022 12 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Michael Eaves and John Anderson; 1/10/2022 12 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia With Jarden Greenberg, Greg Anthony, and Steve Smith; 1/10/2022 3 p.m. "NBA Today" ESPN with Malika Andrews, Matt Barnes, Chiney Ogwumike, Marc J. Spears, Adrian Wojnarowski, and Ramona Shelburne; and https://www.nba.com/game/cle-vs-gsw-0022100604.

J-Speaks: The Passing of An Iconic NFL Head Coach, Broadcaster, And Sports Video Game Symbol

 

One week ago, Tuesday, the National Football League (NFL) and the entire sports world said goodbye to an iconic head coach, who would go on to be a transformative broadcaster, a remarkable product promoter, particularly to video game that bared his name for 34 seasons, which became a staple of every tween, teenager and even adults.

Last Tuesday Hall of Fame head coach of the Oakland Raiders for a decade John Madden passed away at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Virginia, two sons Joseph and Michael and five grandchildren.

On Sunday, Madden’s life was celebrated at every NFL stadium on gameday and on every network broadcast on FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC’s “Football Night in America.”

The Raiders in their 23-20 win at the Indianapolis Colts wore the decal “JM” on the back of their helmets in honor of Coach Madden.

“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement last Wednesday. “We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.”

“Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”

Longtime host of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and “NFL Primetime” Chris Berman said on the night edition of “Sportscenter” Los Angeles to Stan Verrett that our nation just “lost a friend.”

“Whether you had ever met him or just heard him or saw him or thought about him, you felt like if you were in a room with you would be very friendly,” Berman said of how Madden treated everyone he came into contact with.

Born in Austin, MN on Apr. 10, 1936 Madden grew up in Daly City, CA attended Catholic Parochial School with John Robinson at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, graduating in 1950 and then moved on to Jefferson High School, where he graduated in 1954.

After a star football career in high school, Madden played one season of college football at the College of San Mateo in 1954 before earning a football scholarship at the University of Oregon, where he studied pre-law and played football with his friend from childhood John Robinson. After redshirting because of a bad knee, Madden attended College of San Mateo in 1955, then Grays Harbor College, playing in the fall of 1956 before he transferred to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, playing both offense and defense for the Mustangs in 1957. Madden earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1959 and a Master of Arts in education two years later.

Madden was drafted No. 244 overall in NFL Draft by Philadelphia Eagles in 1958 but a knee injury first day of training camp brought an abrupt end to his pro career without playing a snap in the NFL.

Madden’s coaching career began as an assistant at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA at age 24, where he was promoted to head coach in 1962. One year later, Madden was hired as a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State, where he served for three seasons. In his last season with the Aztecs in 1966, they were ranked amongst the top institutions in the country. At San Diego, Madden coached what would become one of the best offensive minds in NFL history in Don Coryell, who Madden gave credit to being one of the most influential people to who he would become as a coach.

Madden’s legendary career as an NFL head coach began when the late owner of the now Las Vegas Raiders (then Oakland) hired him as the linebackers coach in 1967 when they were a part of the American Football League (AFL), where he would become a part of the coaching tree of Hall of Famer Sid Gillman. One year after then head coach John Rauch resigned from the Raiders to take the same position with the Buffalo Bills, Madden was named head coach on Feb. 4, 1969 at age 32, becoming the youngest professional football head coach at that time.

In 10 seasons as the Raiders (1969-78) leader on the sidelines compiled a 103-32-7 record, registering the highest winning percentage in NFL history (.759) for a coach that had minimum of 100 games under their respective belt, only having two losing seasons. His 103 wins remains a Raiders franchise record. Madden, after losing five AFC title games in his first seven years, suffering memorable defeats all the way, Madden led the Raiders to a 32-14 win in Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings. 

Madden’s common man personality, that allowed him to build a connections to everyone he met in person or connected with those that watched him on the television set made him an exceptional head coach that was beloved by some of the most colorful and intriguing personalities to every play football in Hall of Fame quarterback Kenny “The Snake” Stabler, Ted Hendricks, John Matuszak, Fred Biletnikoff that made them appointment television.

When it came to getting the job done between the lines though, those players respected Madden and they brought each time they took the gridiron.

“I think if you play for somebody, you can’t ask to play for anybody more dedicated to the football team. That’s the only thing he cares about,” Stable said about his former head coach.

Al Davis echoed those same sentiments calling Madden in a 1999 interview “smart” and a “teacher.”

“He handled the players. He grew as a coach, and obviously he made his place in the sun as a truly great coach.”

Raiders current owner Mark Davis honored Madden at 6 p.m. lit the torch at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas NV, the original kickoff time for Monday Night Football tweeting @Raiders, “Tonight I light the torch in honor of and tribute to John Madden and Al Davis, who declared that the fire that burns the brightest in the Raiders Organization is the will to win.”

Raiders current quarterback Derek Carr said via Twitter last week @derekcarrqb, “Sad to hear of John Madden passing. Praying for his family.”

Berman said one of the great pleasures of his life was being the host of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, particularly for Madden’s in 2006 and the reaction of the members going in with Madden and the those currently in the Hall of Fame in attendance when Madden gave his Hall of Fame speech. It is those images of Madden greeting Warren Moon, Al Davis, and many others that Berman said will stick with him for a long time.

Madden was inducted into the Hall of Fame first as a broadcaster when he received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television award as a coach and then as a coach four years later.

“Today feels like the second time in my life I’m being carried off the shoulders of others,” Madden said 16 years ago at his Hall of Fame induction referring to when his Raiders players carried him off the field after the Super Bowl XI win.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, tweeted @Jerry Rice, “A coaching and broadcasting legend and loved by all You will be missed. RIP John Madden.”

Super Bowling winning offensive signal caller Patrick Mahomes II tweeted @Patrick Mahomes, “A coaching legend. A broadcasting icon. Beloved by football fans everywhere. Remembering John Madden.”

Hall of Fame quarterback and current color analyst for NFL on Troy Aikman tweeted @TroyAikman, “John Madden was a treasure. He was a gift. And he has incredible friend. RIP John.” 

What also made the Raiders appointment television on gameday was Coach Madden’s demonstrative behavior at times on the sidelines, particularly after one of the most memorable but gut-wrenching conclusions to a playoff game in NFL history when the Raiders lost at the Pittsburgh Steelers what is now dubbed “The Immaculate Reception.”

Madden went to his grave believing that the reception and run for the game-winning touchdown by Steelers’ Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris a half a century ago should have not been ruled a no catch because the ball hit the ground and should have been ruled incomplete.

For those that dared to discuss that play with Madden, would see him turn red in the face with anger because he is convinced that play robbed the Raiders of a chance to be in another Super Bowl.

After Madden retired from the NFL after the 1978 NFL season at age 42, he would embark on a career as one of the greatest color analyst in not just the NFL but all of professional sports commentary from 1979-2009, where he would win 16 Emmy Awards covering the NFL for all four major networks—CBS (1979-93), FOX (1994-2001), ABC 2002-05, and NBC (2006-08). A great deal those 30 years Madden spent in the NFL broadcast booth were alongside late legendary play-by-play man Pat Summerall with CBS and FOX Sports and with Al Michaels on ABC’s “Monday Night Football” and NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”

Madden when not paired with Summerall during his time with CBS called games with the late greats Vin Scully, Dick Stockton, Frank Glieber, and Gary Bender.

Following Summerall and Madden in 2001 was now longtime lead play-by-play man now for FOX Joe Buck and current “Sunday Night Football” color analyst in former Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chris Collinsworth, who replaced Madden twice. Collinsworth said that Madden was a “man of the people.”

When people saw him in a hotel lobby, Madden Collinsworth said would just sit down and as that crowd would grow larger and he would break out into a story from his days as a football coach. Then he would leave and people would be stunned that they spent time with an NFL legend.

“But that’s what he loved to do the most,” Collinsworth said on Sunday’s edition of “Football Night in America.”  

Madden use of colorful observations of what was taking place on the field using simple and expressive language like “Boom!” “Whap!” and “Doink!” to describe a place kicker bounces a field goal attempt off the upright.

The first time Madden used his signature “Boom!” call was his first NFL Broadcast for CBS Sept. 23, 1979 between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers when now Super Bowl winning head coach of the Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tony Dungy was trying to tackle Chuck Muncie after had a long run.

“I did not know I was involved in the first ‘Boom!’ What an honor,” Dungy said last Sunday.

Coach Dungy also said that in his second season as head coach of the Buccaneers Maddon and Summerall broadcasted their contest he invited his friend from Pittsburgh Mack Gray. Of all the things got the chance to do on gameday because of Dungy, the one great memory he had was being introduced to Coach Madden and getting the chance to go on the Madden Bus and take a photo with Madden.

“That was the highlight of his week getting to meet John Madden,” Coach Dungy said.

Super Bowl winning quarterback Drew Brees, who played with the then San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers and the Saints said of having Madden call his game when the Saints played at the Dallas Cowboys in a game to decide the No. 2 Seed in NFC how he remembered walking into the production meeting and seeing Madden.

Brees said that he was more interested in asking Madden questions then the other way around.

“Just a man that left an indelible mark on this league [NFL] and had such a strong impact on all of us,” Brees said.

Another former NFL quarterback who said that Madden left a lasting impact on him when meeting was NBC Sports’ Chris Simms, the son of Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New York Giants and longtime co-host of “Inside the NFL” on Paramount+ and the NFL Today on CBS Phill Simms who said that he felt like Madden was the narrator of his father’s life growing up in the late 1980s and 1990s.

At around age 9 or 10 one day when the younger Simms was at Giants Saturday walk-through practice Madden and Summerall walked the field and Madden conversed with Simms and brought him on the Madden Crusier.

“This was a special thing. From that point, just great to me whenever he saw me. It’s like we were friends. Two peas in a pod,” Simms said of his interactions with Madden. “A really special, special guy.”     

Super Bowl winning safety Rodney Harrison, who played for the Chargers and Patriots said that Madden during a broadcast of one of his games said in his unique voice said that he was a “box safety.”

Harrison said that moment “pushed” him and “motivated” him to become a better football player.

He made the game understandable for everyone that watched from the casual fan to a diehard fans of pro football. Madden made the game of pro football fun. Madden particularly highlighted the offensive and defensive lineman describing their movements from the synergy of the offensive line.

Madden was a particular fan of Washington Football team offensive line during the Joe Gibbs era, where they won three Super Bowls in 1987, 1988 and 1991 dubbed the “Hogs.” 

He also pioneered the use of the word that has become commonplace to describe the machine that produces instant replays or what is used to diagram what is on display on our television sets, called the “telestrator.”

Coach Madden’s final call of an NFL Game was Super Bowl XLII between the Arizona Cardinals and Steelers Feb. 2, 2009. He officially announced his retirement from broadcasting on Apr. 16, 2009.

“The term ‘Renaissance Man’ is tossed around a little too loosely these days, but John was as close as you can come,” Michaels, a five-time Emmy Award winner said in a statement on Tuesday. “A dear friend, a wonderful partner in the broadcast booth and a man who brought so much joy to so many people, I’ll miss him enormously.”

What also made Madden a legend in the broadcast booth, he never made it about him or his time as a head coach unless it could be done within the context of the broadcast. It was all about the players and the coaches.

“He put a smile on everyone’s face and you didn’t dare leave the room or turn the dial,” Berman said of Madden’s color commentary style. “When John Madden’s I really don’t need to go anywhere right now.”

Of the 11 Super Bowls Madden commentated, eight of them he teamed up to call with Summerall.

“John will always have a unique place in the history of pro football,” Michaels said when Madden left NBC 13 years ago. “No one has made the sport more interesting, more relevant and more enjoyable to watch and listen to than John. There’s never been anyone like him, and he’s been the gold standard for analysts for three decades.

In his 30 years as a broadcaster, Madden never got to the site of each game by plane because of his well-known fear of flying which came from claustrophobia.

So instead of flying, Madden traveled in tailor made bus called, “The Madden Cruiser,” which was first supplied in 1987 through Greyhound Lines in exchange for advertising and speaking events. The other coach-bus sponsors over the years have included Walker Advantage Muffler and Outback Steakhouse.

That fear of flying is why during his broadcasting career Madden never commentated the Pro Bowl, which used to then be held in Honolulu or any preseason games held outside North America.

“First game together, I remember him sweating and thinking he’s nervous about being on camera. We did the opening I didn’t realize that the time he had such fear of heights. He’s so claustrophobic.”

Back in 1988 Electronic Arts Sports (EA Sports) approached him about endorsing a new video game called “Madden,” which became a part of pop culture having sold 100 million copies worldwide and counting.

“When we first started out, it was even before video games. It was a computer game,” Madden said in 1999. “In your wildest dreams, you didn’t expect it to be what it is.”

NBC Sports’ Jac Collinsworth said on Sunday that one of the best days of his life is when Coach Madden gave him a copy of “Madden 07” which Collinsworth said how kids like him fell in love with the game of football.

Harrison concurred saying that it was not just kids that love the “Madden” video game, it was adults like him. So much so, that he spent more time playing “Madden” until about 4,5. till 6 a.m. every morning that it nearly cost him his marriage.

“That game has influenced, impacted millions of people. What an incredible man Coach Madden was,” Harrison said.

Along with being a legendary pro football coach, broadcaster and video game icon, Madden was one of the fiercest advocates for player’s safety.

NBC Sports NFL Insider Mike Florio of “Pro Football Talk” said during the “Football Night in America” broadcast on Sunday that after Madden retired from NBC as a television color analyst he became an unpaid advisor to the NFL, who worked tirelessly producing ways to make the game safer.

One specific focal point of his was making sure any player that suffered a concussion is removed from play immediately.

On those occasions when a player was clearly in distress after taking a hit to the head and was not taken off the field, Madden Florio said would be very “livid” when that took place and pushed harder to make sure that players were taken out of the game if they showed an signs of a concussion.

Florio was also told that Madden spent a couple of years trying to remove the three-point stance at every level of football high school, college and pro because he was convinced that as offensive and defensive lineman fired off the ball that those helmet-to-helmet collisions, even at low speed had no place in the game of football or the players.

“He was interested in making everything safer for everyone who put on a helmet and played football,” Florio said about Madden.

For four decades, John Madden was one of the most recognizable and most influential figures in National Football League. He was legend as a head coach on the gird iron for the Oakland Raiders. He became a legend in the broadcast booth for three decades. He became a legendary ad person for many products. On Sunday, we said goodbye to a man who put his life and soul into the game of football and the people that played it, coach it, and watched it live or at home. More than that, John Madden got as much joy being in the room with people as they got joy being in a room with him.

“I never worked a day in my life. I went from player to coach, to broadcaster and I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Madden also said at his Hall of Fame induction speech about his life in pro football.

Information and quotations are courtesy of 12/29/2021 Newsday articles “The Gold Standard On” by Neil Best and “NFL’s Goodwill Ambassador,” by Bob Glauber; 12/29/2021 3 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” from Los Angeles, CA With Ashley Brewer and Stan Verrett, and Chris Berman; 12/31/2021 7 p.m. NBC’s “Football Night In America,” with Maria Taylor, Tony Dungy, Brew Brees, Chris Simms, Jack Collinsworth, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Florio; 1/1/2022 7 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Nicole Briscoe and Randy Scott; 1/3/2022 6 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter With Scott Van Pelt” from Washington, D.C.; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden.