Doesn't sound like a guy who treats his inferiors like garbage.

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1985284-gregg-popovich-has-basically-become-nbas-version-of-the-godfather

You learn through participating," Budenholzer said. "They really want everybody's opinion and they value everybody's opinion. Everybody is deeply involved and committed. You come out prepared and hopefully to be ready out on your own.

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Popovich is a sharer who, over time, has welcomed input from those with new ideas. Once players earn Popovich's trust, they're integral to that process -- Duncan the prime example. Also, Popovich's offensive system very much relies on players to make reads, ultimately putting important on-court decisions in the hands of his key players.

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It began when Kerr revealed that Popovich pays for his players' meals whenever he bumps into them at a restaurant, a policy that dates back to his first years in the NBA. Kerr played for Popovich from 1998 through 2003, earning a pair of championship rings along the way.

"He did," Kerr said when asked who paid for the meal. "That's kind of the rule. He made the rule when we were playing. He has the rule with this team. If you end up in the same restaurant as Pop, he automatically picks up the tab."

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Beck Hammon on Pop

He didn't care that I was a woman. What he cared about was, can I help the team and will I do a good job. Pop leaned in for me, big time. And I think people wanna put me on this barrier-breaker — really Pop is the barrier-breaker. You know, I might have been the tool, but Pop, he thrust me through that ceiling. The fact that he invited me into their inner-circle was a huge vote of confidence, and I do believe leadership knows no gender.

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The only real negatives I could dig up from former players were from Dennis Rodman and Stephen Jackson (not exactly the most stellar citizens). But even Stephen Jackson had this to say -

"I remember playing great and after the last game, we were just sitting there and Pop was like, 'I need to talk to you,'" Jackson said. "He was like, 'Jack, you had a great Summer League. You're playing well. I really want you on my team, but there's only one way that you gone make my team — during the season, you can't smoke weed, Jack. You just can't do it. I need you focused. I need you on your game because you know we have a chance to win a championship. I need you focused.'"