Gregg Popovich says goodbye to the NBA: Ettore Messina’s message

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After twenty-nine seasons as head coach, all at the helm of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich has officially bid farewell to the NBA, at the age of 76. Lots of messages, especially via social media, that fans, players and colleagues, old and new, have dedicated to “Coach Pop”, recordman of regular season wins in the North American League and winner of as many as five titles.

Most notable among the many messages is that of Ettore Messina, who during his time as an advanced coach in the United States, between 2014 and 2019, served precisely as Popovich&#8217s assistant, even filling in for him on a few occasions when the latter could not appear on the bench. The current coach of Olimpia Milano took to Instagram, attaching to the post a photo in which he restrains Popovich intent on protesting.

“Coach Pop… we had a lot of fun overcoming adversity – Messina wrote on his official profile -, you taught me so much and I am proud and honored to call you friend. Congratulations on an amazing career and thank you for all you have done on and off the field for so many people around the world”.

Ettore Messina had landed in San Antonio in the summer of 2014, following his experience with CSKA Moscow. The one in Texas was not the’only American adventure for the 1959-born coach, who had already been a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011-2012 season. In San Antonio he has among other things crossed paths with Marco Belinelli, as well as neroargento legends Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

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