DeRozan eager to work with Popovich
LAS VEGAS — Kyle Lowry had the ball in the right corner. He was welldefended and not able to shoot or drive, so he fired a crosscourt diagonal pass to DeMar DeRozan.
For years, that was a fine idea.
This time, it became a turnover. They were on different teams during this particular scrimmage, which seems fitting.
USA Basketball’s first minicamp of this Olympic cycle started Thursday (Friday, Phl time) in Las Vegas, with DeRozan and Lowry — longtime teammates in Toronto — both wearing the same uniform again. DeRozan is now with the San Antonio Spurs and set to be coached by Gregg Popovich, who just happened to be running his first national team practice Thursday.
DeRozan has made no secret: He wasn’t happy getting traded out of Toronto. But if there’s a consolation prize to be had, it’s that he now gets Popovich.
“It means everything,” DeRozan said. “I could have ended up in the middle of nowhere with Joe Blow. I ended up in a great place that wanted me that strives for greatness. You can’t ask for nothing better than that.”
DeRozan was sent to the Spurs on July 18, along with center Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first round pick, for Kawhi Leonard and wing Danny Green. Leonard was one of the 35 players invited to attend this minicamp; he was one of roughly a dozen who didn’t show, a list that also includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Popovich didn’t seem bothered that there were no-shows.
“People have lives,” Popovich said. “We had a good number of people here and the people who were invited that aren’t here have reasons, whether it’s injury or personal things going on in their lives. And we understand that.”
This two-day camp that ends Friday is little more than a get-to-knowyou-better event for the players and Popovich. There are no games to play, and technically there aren’t even future tournaments to prepare for — under the new qualifying rules, the US isn’t yet assured of having a spot in either the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China or the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The task of making sure the Americans get to China next year has fallen to G League players, who are being coached by Jeff Van Gundy and went 5-1 in the first round of qualifying. The second round of qualifying starts in September.
Popovich is taking over the national team reins from Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke coach who led the US to Olympic gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Krzyzewski was in the gym to watch Thursday.
“He’s been great,” Popovich said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t bug him to death, ask him millions of questions and try to learn from him.”
DeRozan got some 1-on-1 interaction with his new coach toward the end of practice. Popovich chatted with him for a couple of minutes, and then Houston guard Eric Gordon joined in and the three of them went over some post strategy for guards.