3/16/2024 0 Comments Popeye jones nuggets![]() ![]() Working with MVP Nikola Jokic was even sweeter. “And they’ve always said the same thing: Yes, Popeye is former player but he works his butt off, he’s a student of the game, he’s coached offense and defense.” “Popeye was a guy that I always heard nothing but great things about, whether it was from Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers or Dan Burke, a friend of mine who I have great respect for,” Malone said. Malone, meanwhile, had interviewed Jones previously for his staff in Sacramento so there was already a connection there. Unseld called Jones and recommended him to Malone for the job. left the Nuggets to become the head coach of the Wizards, there was an obvious fit for Jones. The following season, after Wes Unseld Jr. However, Jones accepted a lesser role he was behind the bench for games. When the Pacers moved on from McMillan in 2020 and brought in a whole new staff, Jones and longtime assistant Dan Burke joined Doc Rivers in Philadelphia. He established himself as an assistant in Indy, first under Frank Vogel and then Nate McMillan. So it was a natural fit to go into coaching after playing.” “Even if they were ahead of me, I was always helping them and encouraging them, telling them things and trying to teach. “I never was one not to ever help young guys be successful in the NBA,” he said. To now, entering his third season on the bench with Michael Malone and the Nuggets, Jones has a whole new appreciation for the game.Ĭoaching was always in his future and he started grooming himself for a role during his final few years in the NBA, in Dallas and Golden State, since he wasn’t getting on the court. He then got into coaching and worked his way up from player development to assistant coach. He spent a decade playing in the NBA, in the ‘90s and early ‘00s. ![]() It’s been a long road for this NBA lifer. He texted that photo to his friends with the caption: “I’ve been chasing this girl for 30 years. Popeye Jones takes a family photo after winning the championship.Īfter the Denver Nuggets handled the Miami Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals last June, assistant coach Popeye Jones posed for a photo proudly holding the championship trophy and a bottle of champagne in celebration. ![]()
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