Popovich feels safe living in NBA’S Disney bubble

Gregg Popovich fondly remembers his freshman year at the United States Air Force Academy, even though as a first-year cadet he was extremely limited in where he could go and what activities were allowed.

Lockdown at Walt Disney World, he said, reminded him of those days, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

“But two days, anybody can do that,” the San Antonio coach said Saturday.

He made it through that freshman year with ease, made it through the two days of in-room Disney quarantine as well, and now the longest-tenured and oldest active coach in the league is free to roam within the NBA bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have reservations about being part of the NBA restart, given the ongoing issues of racial strife, social inequality and the coronavirus pandemic.

“If you’re a thinking person, you’re going to look at all sides of a situation,” Popovich said. “And, especially being 71 years old, I thought, ‘Is this where I want to spend a lot of my time, doing this, under these circumstances?’ ”

The answer was yes, and Popovich was running his first practice in more than four months Saturday as the Spurs began getting ready for a playoff push. When the season resumes July 30, San Antonio will be 12th in the Western Conference — only a half-game from ninth, where the Spurs would have to be and within four games of the No. 8 spot to force their way into a play-in series.

Popovich points to rising virus numbers in Texas as proof that on the NBA campus, where players and coaches will be tested daily and exposure to the outside world is basically cut off, his health shouldn’t be more at risk.

And to him, this is much more than basketball. The NBA restart will be about raising awareness on social issues and combating racism, and Popovich wants to be a big part of that conversation.

“If this bubble works, I’m safer here than I would be in Texas,” Popovich said.

Trivia question

On this date in 1994, Tony Gwynn singled to lead off the 10th inning of the All-star Game and scored on Moises Alou’s double for an 8-7 National League victory. Gwynn was the only Padres All-star that year, but there were 10 other future and former Padres on the rosters for that game. How many can you name?

She said it

From Mina Kimes of ESPN, via Twitter, on life with COVID-19: “Waking up every morning and seeing sports highlights from countries that took this seriously months ago.”

Trivia answer

Starting pitcher Greg Maddux, second baseman Roberto Alomar, first baseman Fred Mcgriff, pitcher Ricky Bones, third baseman Ken Caminiti, second baseman Carlos Garcia, reliever Rod Beck, pitcher Danny Jackson, outfielder/first baseman Joe Carter and catcher Mike Piazza.