Holt Cat, Spurs Ownership Must Make Decision on Gregg Popovich with Wemby’s Future in the Balance

A few days ago, I wrote there was a storm a-brewin’ in San Antonio.

Forget the a-brewin’ part — after the Bulls game, the storm has arrived.

Tensions are running high, extremely high. To the point where something has got to give. Do not be surprised if you see major news come out of the Alamo City in 2024.

Major news like Gregg Popovich “resigning” mid-season.

Sometimes you don’t retire when you really should. Gregg Popovich missed a few of those train stops and now he needs put down the clipboard.

No, really — the Holt Cat family, Sixth Street Partners, and Michael Dell must insist upon it.

Pop is openly ruining Victor Wembanyam’s rookie year; he’s been beyond disrespectful to the French sensation throughout the season.

Do you remember the time the Spurs had a marquee game against the prime Heat (with Lebron and Wade) on TNT and Pop sat Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili?

Pop is doing that x100 to Victor.

Imagine Victor having a nice family Christmas gathering and Pop barging through the door, uninvited, with muddy shoes, and then walking on Victor’s couch to make a speech.

But don’t worry, Pop would tell you his actions are all for Victor’s benefit.

I started with the belief that surely the Spurs would not be so stupid to go against their coveted franchise player’s wishes and be greedy enough to tank again. But Pop has been doing so many things obviously wrong for so long that I’ve now switched to the Spurs are tanking AGAIN camp — and this time it’s not tanking by trading away their best players, Pop is doing everything he can to rack up losses.

Whether it’s the Jeremy Sochan point guard experiment, obsessively shaving minutes from Victor’s playing time, coming into the season with no game plan, not running the offense through Victor, not putting Victor in position to succeed, or not reprimanding teammates for ignoring him, Pop has worked overtime to increase the Spurs chances of losing.

But he’s also making this a very, very ugly situation.

Victor wants to win and the Spurs open tanking goes directly against his wishes and his stance on tanking.

Before the season, Victor stated his goal was to make the playoffs.

Well, Gregg Popovich is making damn sure that will never happen. The Spurs are 4–23 and on pace for 12 wins and a place in NBA infamy for being one of the worst teams ever.

All during Victor’s rookie season.

Victor’s not a loser, but Pop is making him one.

Do you remember when I said tensions are running high?

Everyone, everyone is starting to talk about the disaster that Pop is smearing around.

From national TV analysts, to team color commentators, to play-by-play guys, to NBA pundits, to YouTubers — everyone is watching this nightmare unfold and the Gregg Popovich 5-championships store credit is officially gone.

Against the Bulls, Victor was noticeably displeased (with an exasperated, come on reaction) when Pop pulled him early in the second quarter after having pulled him early in the first.

And then, in the second half, Spurs color man Sean Elliott finally couldn’t hold his frustration in anymore. The former Spur went off on Victor’s teammates for not getting him the ball.

He didn’t say Pop’s name, he only used the word leadership once and I couldn’t tell if it was in reference to Pop or the players on the floor. But Sean’s sharp like a Wüsthof knife, he knows who’s ultimately at fault.

This is all to say, it’s time to fire Pop.

In the Mavericks game, Victor tweaked his ankle by stepping on a ball boy’s foot and Pop sat him out, admitting after the game that Victor was “not happy” with the decision.

You don’t get to unceremoniously trash the greatest basketball prospect of all-time’s rookie season and just walk around like nothing’s wrong.

I can’t tell if Pop understands the gravity of what he’s doing or whose parade he’s raining on.

Victor Wembanyama may be unassuming but he is a force of great magnitude.

Tanking this season or just being historically horrible while brazenly disrespecting Victor has consequences.

Spurs ownership must remove the legendary coach as soon as possible to ensure Victor’s rookie season ends on a positive note. The Spurs need to build back up the chances of Victor signing an extension.

If he leaves, everything walks out the door with him.

I’ve written about the Spurs ongoing saga all season long. Other related articles include:

How Pop psychology got Victor on board with barely playing.

That time in Memphis, where water burst through a crack in the dam and Victor took control from Pop. I think Pop was secretly extremely flustered and had to muster all of his savvy for a major chat with Wemby (see Pop Psychology article).

Brian Sutterer MD, the renowned YouTube sports doctor, said Victor’s mandatory minutes restriction is completely unnecessary and called it paranoid.

Ever heard of Nicky Santoro and Sam Rothstein? Would you house sit a wealthy person’s mountain manor with care? Read how things got out of control at the blackjack table and in San Antonio.

After Pop is fired, I already know who Holt Cat should replace Pop with.

Pop sat on one reporter’s chicken question like Jose Canseco with a fastball. He used the discussion to deny tanking, but with a twist.