Revealing the Spurs' Game 3 Comeback: 77-Year-Old Popovich Gave a 10-Minute Speech on the Plane and Spoke Individually with Every Player

On June 10, Beijing time, renowned reporter Sam Amick wrote an article uncovering the backstory of the Spurs' Game 3 resurgence. Popovich gave a 10-minute address and held individual talks with every player and coach, which proved highly impactful. The details are as follows—

As the Spurs' charter flight prepared to depart for New York, it was delayed for an extended period due to a tire blowout on an earlier flight. Popovich, who no longer travels with the team, deliberately boarded the plane and delivered an inspiring speech. The 77-year-old legendary coach ended his coaching career in November 2024 after suffering a stroke and now serves as the team's president of basketball operations. For the first time this season, he stepped onto the team's private jet to remind the players that the series was far from over.

"He basically said that even if we're in a tough spot, we're fully capable of turning things around," Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox said in an interview. "He told us to let go of the pressure and believe in ourselves. It's no accident that we made it to the Finals stage."

On the front office side, Spurs legend R.C. Buford and general manager Brian Wright are in charge; on the court, interim coach Mitch Johnson, who took over last season, directs the action. Recently, Popovich has mostly stayed behind the scenes, but during this postseason, he has spoken out at critical moments to influence the team. In the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, when the Spurs fell behind 1-2, Popovich entered the locker room and delivered a stern motivational speech to the entire team.

This time, Fox noted thatPopovich wanted everyone to regain their confidence. He addressed the whole team for nearly 10 minutes, then spent over 20 minutes speaking individually with each player and coach, sitting beside star center Victor Wembanyama for much of that time. After completing his conversations, he left the plane, and the team subsequently departed for New York.

In Fox's view, Popovich never spoke casually; every remark was carefully considered, giving them significant weight.

"Whenever he gives us guidance, we always feel inspired," Fox said. It was Fox who hit the key mid-range jumper with 12.2 seconds left in the game against OG Anunoby, giving the Spurs a five-point lead and sealing the victory. "He doesn't gather the whole team often, and he sometimes talks to players individually. But when he does address everyone, there's always deep meaning behind it—never empty words."

During the team's media day today, head coach Mitch Johnson stated that this squad, which missed the playoffs last season, has been turning belief into results all year. Before the season, Las Vegas oddsmakers projected the Spurs would win only 44.5 regular-season games, but the team finished with a 62-20 record, just two games behind the defending champion Thunder (64-18), ranking second in the league.

Even after losing the first two games of the Finals, the team displayed an extraordinary calm. After losing Game 1, Wembanyama bluntly said, "I'm not worried at all"; following the Game 2 loss, he remained optimistic. Now the Spurs understand that if they can take Game 4, they will completely disrupt the Knicks' rhythm while seizing the initiative and returning home for Game 5. The team will continue to maintain that mindset.