Spurs' Popovich to coach West in NBA All-Star Game

NEW YORK (AP) - San Antonio's Gregg Popovich was humbled by his selection to coach the NBA's West All-Stars, even though Golden State has the best record in the conference.

With the Warriors' Steve Kerr ineligible because he coached last year and Luke Walton not receiving official credit for the team's early success, Popovich earned the nod as West coach for the fourth time.

"It's a pretty awesome feeling to know that you're going to be in the locker room with some of the best athletes in the world," Popovich said. "That's pretty humbling. It's kind of cool."

Popovich will coach one of his own, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, who earned a starting nod in his first All-Star Game.

The All-Star coaches are determined by the teams with the best records in each conference two weeks before the game, which is Feb. 14 in Toronto.

Walton led the Warriors to a record-setting, 39-4 start before Kerr returned from back surgery last week. However, NBA rules state that all Walton's victories earned on an interim basis actually go to Kerr, and league rules prevent coaches from participating in two consecutive All-Star games.

Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday that he was "impressed" by Walton's calm demeanor while filling in for Kerr. San Antonio's veteran coach called the 35-year-old's performance "fantastic, but didn't want to enter the debate about whether Walton should be the All-Star coach.

"Woulda, shoulda, woulda," Popovich said. "I don't do shoulda woulda. I don't do shoulda, woulda."

The league said recently it was reviewing its policy to determine if Walton would still be eligible for the All-Star spot, but announced Wednesday that it would be Popovich, who has won five NBA championships.

Popovich previously coached the West in 2005, 2011 and 2013.