Ray Romano Shares How Gregg Popovich Inspired His Coaching Role in ‘Running Point’

Ray Romano Draws Inspiration from Gregg Popovich for New Role in Running Point

Ray Romano has stepped into the role of Coach Norm Stinson in the second season of the Netflix series Running Point, using the legendary Gregg Popovich as a source of inspiration for his portrayal.

Romano, a two-time Golden Globe nominee, discussed how his last-minute casting influenced his performance. "I got the offer and I had to come in next week," he said in an interview with People. "I usually do a little bit of an actory thing and do a little backstory, but I didn’t really have the time."

He elaborated on his choice of Popovich, the president and former coach of the San Antonio Spurs, as a model for his character. "I thought what NBA [should I look to] … Well, first of all, the script was explaining who the guy was. And then I like … Who can I emulate? And the guy I thought of was [Gregg] Popovich. Yeah. I think if I ever was a coach, I would be close to him. I’m close to his age and I just like his demeanor and all that."

Romano noted that Popovich served as the foundation for his performance, with a natural progression from there. "That was the base. And then we let it go from there," he commented.

Romano joined the cast of Running Point in October, taking over the role from Robert Townsend. Coach Stinson, now portrayed by Romano, is a basketball savant turned social recluse who teams up with Isla, played by Kate Hudson, to re-discover his passion for the game and life.

The character underwent a reconceptualization following the casting change, with Romano stepping in for reshoots as the production evolved.