SHENZHEN, China - Before each game at the FIBA World Cup the entire teams are announced to the crowd, culminating with the head coach. Without fail as Team USA has progressed from Shanghai and now to Southern China, Gregg Popovich has gotten the loudest ovation.
Popovich, for better or worse, is maybe the biggest American star here, even if he rejects the concept out of hand. But frankly, the U.S. needs him to be a star on occasion, every bit as much as they need those turns from Kemba Walker or Donovan Mitchell.
Popovich and his coaching staff put in a star performance Saturday night in Team USA's 69-53 win over Greece.