Mar 20, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich checks the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors
NEW YORK — There’s a reason Madison Square Garden has the nickname “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Just ask Spurs head coach Greg Popovich.
“It’s the best place to play in the world. I actually mentioned it [to our team] when we came to shootaround,” Popovich said ahead of tipoff between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. “I walked by [a few] guys over here and said: ‘You guys are in the best arena to play basketball you’ll ever be in.’
“Some of the guys agreed, other guys, said, ‘Oh, what about such and such?’ Had to look at the rafters, and of course some of the young guys they don’t know some of those names, for sure. But it’s a special place.”
When questioned why, Popovich explained why The Garden is the best arena in the world.
“‘Cause it is. Some things, words don’t describe it,” he said. “You just walk in there, the lights go on, and it’s a different ball game. You get a little bit of electricity going through your back.”
Spurts rookie Victor Wembanyama made his highly anticipated debut in MSG where he was blanked by a ferocious Knicks defense scoring 14 points — most of it in garbage time – on 4 of 14 shooting with three turnovers in San Antonio’s 126-105 loss Wednesday to the Knicks.
We’re learning,” the Frenchman said after the game. “As a young team, any team really, we’re going to go through losing streaks sometimes during the season in tough times. It’s going to happen. But the most important thing is how we bounce back.”
Wenbamyama and the Spurs look to bounce back on Friday against the Timberwolves.
