Bam Adebayo helped Gregg Popovich and Team USA win gold at the Olympics last year, but that does not mean he is a fan of the Spurs coach. The Miami Heat star still hasn’t forgiven the Hall of Fame coach for originally cutting him from the roster.
Popovich did not select Adebayo for Team USA’s 2019 FIBA World Cup team, but ended up choosing him to represent his country in the Tokyo Olympics. Adebayo said he “definitely” still had animosity toward Popovich for his actions the first time around.
“I felt like I should have been on the team. When I got to the Olympics, I had to let my animosity go because he was my coach at the time,” Adebayo told Sports Illustrated’s, Ashley Nicole Moss. “But when we left, I let him know, ‘Look, for the time being in this Olympics, we’re cool. You’re my coach, I’m your player. We’re gonna be like you and Tim [Duncan]. But when we leave, just know I’ll never forget that you cut me.’”
Popovich reacted to it like a professional.
“He respected it so much. He was like, ‘I can’t be mad at that. I did what’s best for the team, but I’ve got to live with that,’” Adebayo told Moss.
Adebayo started all six games for the United States in Tokyo and he averaged 6.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the tournament. In the Gold Medal game against France, he produced six points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
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During the regular season, Adebayo scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and swiped four steals in a 112-95 win over San Antonio on February 3rd. He wasn’t done tormenting the Spurs as he scored 36 points, seven boards and three blocks in a 133-129 victory on February 26th.
