Gregg Popovich spent just 63 seconds coaching against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night at the . And 34 seconds turning Mike Malone’s postgame news conference into an Abbott & Costello routine.
Malone was picking the bones out of the Nuggets’ 113-85 rout of the in one of the hallways adjacent to the home locker room when Popovich — who’d been ejected 1:03 into the first period after jawing with referee Mark Ayotte — decided to break through the pack of reporters circling Malone and give the Nuggets coach a big hug. As well as some unexpected comic relief.
Gregg Popovich just blew up Michael Malone’s press conference.
— Mike Singer (@msinger)
The video of Popovich crashing the news conference went viral, and a transcript of the half-minute exchange was almost as delightful:
Popovich (nudges through reporters): Can I help? Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. (Reaches Malone)
Malone: We were just talking about the NBA record that was set tonight.
Popovich (Faking it): What was the record? What happened?
Malone: Somebody got thrown out in 63 seconds.
Popovic (Still faking it): Are you SERIOUS? That person must’ve — I mean, he must’ve hit somebody, huh? Did somebody get hit tonight?
Malone (Fighting to keep a straight face): I don’t think so.
Popovich: Or did somebody get cursed at or anything?
Malone (No longer keeping a straight face): Itap part of the game, in my book.
Popovich: Wow. OK.
Malone: (To reporters): Anything else, guys, for coach Pop?
Popovich: Hell of a record. Anything for me? I gotta go. Continue with Mikey. Good job, Mike. (Leaves)
Malone: All right, good to see you. Appreciate it, coach. (Turns to reporters again) Thatap one of a kind. I don’t know what to say after that.
The 17,643 in attendance at Pepsi Center on Wednesday might’ve seen a new NBA record — Elias Sports Bureau doesn’t track coaching ejections as an official stat — for a quick hook. Popovich’s ejection was believed to be the earliest slapped on an NBA coach since Dallas’ Don Nelson got the boot just 93 seconds into a contest at Minnesota on Dec. 7, 2004.
–Sean Keeler
