SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich is not the most outspoken person at times with the media, but when he is passionate about something and decides to open up, his voice is powerful. 

What You Need To Know

  • The NBA is in Orlando getting ready to restart the season.

  • Popovich says the league is in a position to create change

 As the NBA gets ready to restart, Popovich is using his voice to speak out about social injustice. 

“The message that the league wants to send is one of equity and no injustice for anyone,” Popovich said during a Zoom interview on Saturday. “Making sure people have to think about it every day.” 

Popovich believes that the players and coaches in the league can use their influence and reach to help create change. 

“It’s a seminal moment,” says Popovich. “We have the opportunity to do something transformative if we have the courage.” 

The Spurs head coach says he’s always tried to have open conversations with his players over the years, but in the last few months he’s learned more and tried to educate himself on the injustices that Black people in America have faced. 

“What I hope is that educationally and empathetically our society changes,” says Popovich. “This wealth gap is the biggest problem we have. Even for people like myself who sort of think we had a good feel for the injustice and inequity, we didn’t know crap. It’s impossible in my mind for we white people to accept wealth, privilege when we know, when the virus has made it so obvious how unfair, how cruel the system has been.”​