Does any quote encapsulate why we love Gregg Popovich more than this one?
Pop on courting free agents: "I’m not calling anyone at midnight. I’ll be in bed. And if that’s the difference, then I don’t want them" #NBA
— Davide Chinellato (@dchinellato) June 30, 2015
Pop's referring to the NBA's free agency period starting tonight at midnight eastern time. There's a time-honored tradition amongst NBA front offices to contact coveted free agents at 12:01 a.m. eastern to show how much they want them. But apparently Pop, much like the honey badger, don't care — he just takes what he wants.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, given Pop's well-documented proclivity for grumpiness. And we doubt it will be enough to scare away the Spurs' top free agent target: Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Popovich is a curmudgeon, but an endearing one.
Let's go to the tape for some of Pop's best moments of crankiness:
Hopefully, Aldridge or other top-tier free agents will soon bear the brunt of Pop's grumpy ire. The All-Star forward is scheduled to meet with Pop, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker later in the day tomorrow, according to Yahoo Sports.