Coach Gregg Popovich took over the Spurs as the head coach in December of 1996. That's nearly 30 years, knowing who was going to lead the team and how they were going to do it. Pop led with strength and poise. He had his moments with the media, but by all accounts, he was a compassionate man who made everyone feel like family. This will be the first time we head into a season knowing he won't be the leader on the sidelines.
I think that the truth at the heart of much of the uncertainty among many fans and some analysts is the skepticism surrounding the transition from the Popovich era.