The 2018-19 Spurs were last in the NBA in three-point rate and first in percentage of midrange attempts, a shot profile that was fun enough to throw at analytics wonks as the team went on to overachieve off the strength of its 6th ranked offense. For a year at least, Gregg Popovich showed there were at least two ways to skin a cat in an increasingly uniform league.
The Spurs coach is certainly aware of the added value of the three-point shot, and narratives that run with his various colorful quotes framing it as a gimmick overlook his history in making ample use of it when possible.