Nets: Gregg Popovich Rumors Squashed by Brooklyn GM Sean Marks

A rumor surfaced on Saturday about the Nets’ interest in Gregg Popovich, but Brooklyn’s GM denied it.

Brooklyn Nets fans were dreaming on the Fourth of July. Rumors began to surface suggesting the team was going to make a run at coaching legend Gregg Popovich and lure him away from the San Antonio Spurs. Just imagine Pop working with a guy like Kevin Durant.

Well, to the dismay of just about everyone in the borough, Nets general manager Sean Marks has come out to deny the buzz in speaking with WFAN’s Joe & Evan. It seems everybody missed this, because it happened on Friday.

A total bummer, to say the least.

“Pop has a job. So I will say that,” Marks said on the air. “And, obviously, we all know he’s an amazing, amazing coach — and to be quite frank, an even better leader. So I’ll let Pop continue to coach for the Spurs. He owes it to them and they owe it to him. I’m sure he’s quite happy there.”

Then again, Marks mentioned that Durant and Kyrie Irving will be integral to the team’s decision making when it comes to coaching and roster moves. Think those guys wouldn’t approve of Pop coming to New York? That’ll be just another colossal move to make the Knicks look like dunces.

Though Jacque Vaughn seems like a great option to replace Kenny Atkinson on a full-time basis, there’s no denying the impact Popovich would have in making the Nets even more of a championship-caliber squad.

The 71-year-old has been to six NBA Finals, winning five of them, and has an astounding 1,272-611 record for his career since taking over the Spurs back in 1996. Not to mention, he’s extremely supportive of the players and serves as an influential voice on social issues, which is something that would be further amplified in New York.

We’re not going to put this to bed just yet, but Marks acknowledging the rumor and throwing cold water on it certainly doesn’t instill confidence.