It’s no secret that Gregg Popovich hates participating in those pointless in-game interviews prior to the 2nd and 4th quarters of NBA games. The league-mandated interviews consist of two questions, are limited to national television broadcasts, require each coach to participate, and — approximately 99.99% of the time — offer no helpful analysis. The Spurs have 19 games on national television during the 2014-15 season, which is 19 pointless interviews too many for Pop’s liking. In an interview with USA Today, Pop went off on the league’s (and its media partners’) insistence on continuing the segments, and his one-man crusade to end them:
Q: Have you argued to have those after-quarter interviews eliminated?
A: Oh, Sure. Hell, I bring it up every year at the head coaches meeting in Chicago, when all the head coaches are there and TNT and ESPN and all the representatives. I raise my hand every year, and I say, “Well guys, you know what I’m going to say. I don’t understand why we have to do this, to subject the coaches and the questioners to this little period of idiocy. They (the TV people) are in our timeouts the entire game. They have cameras in our timeouts. They hear everything we say. They have microphones and they can use anything they want — you know, we trust them. So if they have total access like that, this end of first and third quarter actually takes us away from our job.” And that’s my philosophical difference with them.
I said, “I’m supposed to be setting the defense and offense to start the next quarter, and I can’t do my job because I’m doing this inane deal with whoever is asking me a question.” The questions are unanswerable. It’s like, “That quarter, you got killed on the boards. What are you going to do about it?.” “Well, I’m going to conduct a trade during timeouts.” Or, “I’m going to ask them nicely to do a better job on the boards.” The questions just demand a trite quip, or something, so I just say, “You know, it just puts everybody in a stupid position.” And (NBA officials) listen to it, and then they go, “Yeah, well (blabbering).” And then they don’t do anything about it. So I just do what I do.
Q: Have you given up yet as far as trying to get those interviews eliminated or do you just keep fighting?
A: Oh yeah. I’m going to say it every year. I do it, and then … two, three four times it’ll come up, and I’ll say I don’t agree with the NBA. They don’t need it. It’s superfluous. It’s awkward for the questioner. It puts the coach in a position where he looks ignorant or trite, or that “Well, one game at a time stuff,” or “Well, we’ll try to do better this quarter. Maybe we’ll shoot better.” It’s just — it makes no sense. You can’t answer a question in 10 seconds. You can’t do it. I’ve gotten to the point where I have fun with them now. It’s part humor, part sarcasm. If I have a questioner who’s really kind of fun, then we really have a good time. Like (TNT’s Craig) Sager or somebody.
While Pop may be the only person willing deliver such harsh truths on record, he’s set somewhat of a precedent in regards to handling the situation. For instance, Rick Carlisle messes with sideline reporters form time to time, even going so far as to give Pop shout outs on camera. If more coaches followed suit, then perhaps the NBA would finally realize this is all one big waste of time and energy.
