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The Gregg Popovich Call That Adam Silver Can't Forget: 'He Yelled at Me!'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Mariano | Last updated May 7, 2025 2:49 PM ET

It's officially the end of an era for the San Antonio Spurs after longtime coach Gregg Popovich recently announced his retirement following the mild stroke he suffered in November.

While the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer won't call the shots from the sideline anymore, he will remain with the Spurs as the president of basketball operations.

It's hard to overstate the impact the 76-year-old Popovich has made during his coaching career. He led San Antonio to five championships and an NBA-record 22 straight appearances in the playoffs. But perhaps more importantly, Popovich built the culture of the famous "The Spurs Way," which many teams still try to emulate.

As soon as he became the Spurs coach in 1996, he planted the seeds of his vision.

According to a report from ESPN's Baxter Holmes, one day in the late 1990s, Popovich called NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who was then the head of NBA Entertainment, to voice his displeasure about a promotional spot for San Antonio that "featured one player above everyone else."

"He yelled at me!" recalled Silver. "His point was you've never run a team and have no idea how even what seems like a small issue to you could disrupt the chemistry of my team."

Silver said it underscored Popovich's strong values, which were instilled in him during his time as an Air Force cadet. Silver added that the NBA's all-time winningest coach's honesty and humility were a "big part of his extraordinary success."

"It spoke to Pop's enduring belief that no individual player is bigger than the team, and the intensity and attention to detail necessary to win championships," Silver said.

"In typical Pop fashion, he never sought credit for what his teams accomplished or the role he played in developing generations of players and coaches."

Mitch Johnson, who temporarily took over for Popovich last season, was officially named the team's new coach, adding to the ever-growing tree of the Spurs icon.

That's something he could yell about.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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