Malik Rose confirms that the Spurs nearly fired Gregg Popovich and hired Doc Rivers in 1999: "I know it to be true"
Former San Antonio Spurs forward Malik Rose recently guested on the 'Run it Back' podcast, and while there, he was asked whether the old rumor that the Spurs were about to fire Gregg Popovich and bring in Doc Rivers in 1999 was true.
Rose said that, personally, he knew nothing of such a story. When he later heard the rumor and connected it to the actual events that took place on the alleged dates, Malik says he believes that the tale is accurate.
"That day, Dave brought us in. And Dave grabbed me and put that grown man strength and said, 'Like, cut that BS out,' but he didn't say BS. So anybody that knows Dave, it's like when he's cursing, it's serious, something like, 'Wait a minute.' I just remember that Dave brought us in, 'It's a serious game, we need to get this one guys, and he led us to victory.' But later on, you hear the story, and I know it to be true because Dave brought us in that day, and he was cursing. My arm still hurts from when he grabbed me," Rose explained.
'The Admiral' brought the Spurs in
On March 2, 1999, the Spurs visited the Rockets in Houston. At that point, San Antonio was 6-8 after 14 games played and was coming off back-to-back losses to the Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz. Rumor said that if the SAS lost that game, Pop was going to be fired.
According to Rose, it was usually point guard Avery Johnson who gathered the troops together before games and brought them onto the basketball court. But in that particular game, it was 'The Admiral' who led them to the court. And to him, that was a sign that something big was about to happen.
David Robinson played a massive all-around game, scoring 15 points with nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocked shots to ensure that Pop wouldn't get fired. The Spurs blew out the Rockets 99-82 and won nine straight games and 31 out of their next 36 games en route to winning the first of five championships.
Doc denies it was a close call
But while Rose was sure that something fishy was going on before that game, Rivers himself denied that he wanted to take over Pop's job. After all, he had no previous coaching experience. During an interview with ESPN, Doc said that he wanted no part of the Spurs.
"The only talk I had back then was I made sure I wasn't a part of all that bulls---," Rivers said. "I don't think it was as close as people thought it was. Maybe it was. I've read that it was. I tried to stay out of it."
Rivers ended up taking the Orlando Magic coaching job the following year, and it turned out to be the correct decision because he won the 2000 Coach of the Year honors. For the Spurs, it was the best non-move they made, as Popovich would go on to win five championships and become the winningest coach in NBA history.
