Spurs’ Gregg Popovich on NBA’s 3-Point Focus: Let’s Just Make It a ‘Real Circus’

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been known to take a sarcastic jab at the league for which he’s employed, and the legendary coach is at it again.

Popovich started by talking about the 3-point shot, and how teams are using it more than ever.

“It’s much more difficult to play defense these days with so many people that can shoot threes,” he said, via BasketNews. “The quantity is massive and they come pretty quickly so people are going to score, that’s just the way it is.”

“Averages are going to go up. You can still work on half-court defense but in transition, when people can spread the court the way NBA players can now and from the distance the shoot, it’s obviously an advantage.”

That’s about the time Popovich got snarky.

“I’ve said before, I’m just hoping that the league ends up with a 4-point shot or a 5-point shot so we can make it a real circus,” Popovich said. “Then it will be a different sport, it won’t even be basketball, it would just be a bunch of crap.”

Popovich has been coaching the Spurs since 1996. Before that, he was an assistant (with the Spurs and Warriors) beginning in 1988. He has seen it all in this league, perhaps more than anyone.

There was a time when the league came under fire for being too defensive-oriented. The rules today favor offense, particularly wide-open perimeter shooting. Scores and scoring are through the roof.

That’s not to say one way is worse than the other. It’s just different.

Clearly, though, Popovich sure doesn’t think it’s any better.

"It's much more difficult to play defense. I've said before I'm just hoping that the league ends up with a 4-point shot or a 5-point shot so we can make it a real circus. It'll be a different sport. It won't even be basketball, it'd just be a bunch of crap"

– Gregg Popovich pic.twitter.com/Kd7Yro5xkO

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2023