OAKLAND — A year ago around this time, Steve Kerr was in the market for a new lead assistant and Mike Brown was a target. But before Kerr called Brown, he called Gregg Popovich.
Brown was hanging around the Spurs some. Popovich was the mutual connection. Among Kerr’s questions for Popovich: Is Brown really ready to dive back into coaching full-time?
“Pop got off the phone and told me Steve may call,” Brown said. “Then he told me: ‘If he does and he offers you the job, you better take it! You’ve been out long enough.