Gregg Popovich and the Team USA men’s basketball fought through adversity time and time again on their way to winning the gold medal at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. The group made it through roster changes, exhibition meltdowns and a loss in their Olympic opener before coming out on top over France in the championship game.
Team USA also fought through the harsh criticism from basketball pundits back in the United States. Popovich clearly heard those comments throughout the Olympics because he fired back after his team won the gold medal.
In a video posted by Team USA center Javale McGee, Popovich spoke to his players after the championship game and touched on the doubts that many had expressed about the group throughout the summer. He began his postgame speech on a lighter note, saying how impressed he was with the team’s ability to overcome adversity.
“It’s an honor to be blessed with a group of Olympic Champions and that’s what you are. I just gotta tell you I feel so fortunate having the opportunity to be with all of you guys and the staff,” Popovich said. You’ve gone through a lot. As I said at the beginning before the game started with all of the challenges you guys met, your courage and tenacity just worked right through it.”
Later in the speech, Popovich pivoted to addressing those that criticized him and Team USA for their shaky start this summer. He also got emotional when sharing how proud he was to be a part of a gold medal winning Olympic team for the first time in his coaching career.
“At the beginning, people were saying ‘why is he on the team’ or ‘you should’ve taken him’; all the pundits, all these people who think they know something,” Popovich said. “Then we started out getting our asses kicked after a couple practices… and then here comes COVID and three guys walk off the plane, a day before the game. You guys went through all of that stuff and your families are back in the [United States] sacrificing the same way. That’s why I’m so proud to be a part of this. It’s like the best feeling I’ve ever had in basketball.”
Pop ended his postgame speech in terrific fashion with one last message for anyone who questioned Team USA.
“I would just like to say to all those people out there: How the f— you like us now?”
Gregg Popovich Gold Medal Speech: pic.twitter.com/ulpxpYPznJ
— Noah Magaro-George (@N_Magaro) August 16, 2021
Clearly Popovich and the rest of Team USA obviously took note of the criticism leading up to and during the Olympic Games. Those critiques have dissipated ever since the group started wearing gold medals around their necks.
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