Atlanta HawKs Coach Gives Lengthy Tribute To Mentor Gregg Popovich After Winning 'Coach Of The Year'

SKIP TO 8:45

At the risk of sounding ignorant, I have a question. Did Greg Popovic die? I mean, I know he is killing my playoff spirit by intentionally fouling DeAndre Jordan everytime down the floor, but did he croak along with it? That's the only explanation for this, right? Since when is thank you not enough? Couldn't you just send a gift basket or something? I know that Budenholzer owes a lot of success to the mentorship of Greg Popovich, but Jesus Christ, get it together man. His eyes were glassier than the house Donald Sterling throws stones from. They were were swelling up faster than Aron Baynes broken ego. There's no crying in basketball. Especially not during April. 

Did Pop save your kitten from a tree? Did he revive your dying grandmother? Hey Mike, you might have to actually play against the guy whose pregame eulogy you just gave. How do you expect other teams to take you seriously when you are waxing poetic about a man that you should consider competition? If you can't handle your emotions when accepting an award, how do you plan on making it through the grind of the NBA playoffs? You say Pop taught you everything, but I am starting question whether he taught you anything. Not sure there's ever been a time where Popovic didn't have the driest eyes in the building. Never let 'em see you sweat, and damn sure don't let 'em see you cry. That kindness you keep lauding on to Gregg Popovich are a little something he considers weakness.

It's possible to show gratitude while still taking credit for your accomplishments. You won 60 games with the Atlanta Hawks for Christ's sake. You are all but guaranteed to sweep a pedestrian Brooklyn Nets team. You're on the verge of having more victories than fans. At least take one hand off Popovich's dick so you can give yourself a pat on the back. There's a difference between appreciation and adulation. The NBA playoffs are where amazing happens, not where admiring happens. Save the tears for when you hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. You have all summer for Gregg Popovic to blankly stare at you while you worship the ground he walks on.

This was pretty damn cool though...

Love this: When ATL #Hawks found out Mike Budenholzer won Coach of the Year, they asked his mentor Gregg Popovich to call & tell him. He did

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 21, 2015