Could Gregg Popovich coach 76ers? ‘I’d last about a month’

Two years ago, people near Brett Brown – then a Spurs assistant coach – urged him to pass on the 76ers job.

Maybe one of those advisors was San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich on Brown, via Raul Dominguez of CSN Philly:

“He’s the most positive individual I know,” Popovich said. “I honestly don’t know who else could be in Philadelphia doing what he’s doing. I couldn’t. I’d last about a month. Two years ago, I mean [I would last] a month. Not a month into the third year.”

Popovich doesn’t have much patience for coaching outside his terms. And he has mostly earned that. The Spurs have been wildly successful, giving Popovich privileges of the top of the profession.

The 76ers, on the other hand, have gone 37-137 under Brown’s watch. Instead of bemoaning his lackluster rosters, Brown has embraced the challenge of teaching a young team. That’s not for everybody – not for Popovich – but he clearly respects the job his former assistant has done.

Soon, the question becomes whether Philadelphia respects it enough to extend Brown’s contract.

Popovich might have lobbied Brown not to take the job a couple years ago. But I also think he’s campaigning the 76ers to guarantee Brown more years now.