What coaching position did the Spurs-Suns rivalry allegedly prevent ''Coach Pop'' from acquiring?
Spurs–Suns rivalry The Spurs–Suns rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns. It began in the 1990s, when the Spurs were led by "The Admiral", David Robinson, and the Phoenix Suns were propelled by a number of players, including Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, and Tom Chambers. The rivalry continued into the next decade with Tim Duncan leading the Spurs, and with Steve Nash leading the Suns. The rivalry has also allegedly prevented Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from coaching the USA Basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
1996–97 Phoenix Suns season The 1996–97 NBA season was the 29th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Suns acquired Sam Cassell and Robert Horry from the Houston Rockets, and signed free agent Rex Chapman. However, the team struggled losing their first 13 games of the season. After an 0–8 start, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons was replaced by former Suns guard Danny Ainge, who led the team to a 40–34 finish, along the way they were many in-season moves such as trading Cassell, second-year star Michael Finley and A. C. Green, to the Dallas Mavericks for future-superstar Jason Kidd, Loren Meyer and Tony Dumas, and sending Horry along with Joe Kleine, to the Los Angeles Lakers for former Suns forward Cedric Ceballos and Rumeal Robinson.