Actor Ray Romano revealed that he drew direct inspiration from an NBA coaching legend while developing his role in the series Running Point. Speaking at the show’s Season 2 premiere in Los Angeles on April 15, Romano told PEOPLE that his character, Coach Norm Stinson, was influenced by longtime San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
“I got the offer, and I had to come in next week,” Romano said of joining the series. “And I usually do a little bit of an actory thing and do a little backstory, but I didn’t really have the time.”
With limited time to prepare, Romano leaned on the script and his instincts before settling on a real-world comparison to guide his performance. He explained, “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.”
Romano added, “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. That was the base. And then we let it go from there.”
Ray Romano Based His Last-Minute 'Running Point' Coach Performance On Gregg Popovich: "That Was The Base" https://t.co/aY0TsnAzsC
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In the series Running Point, Romano takes on the role of a reclusive basketball savant who finds his way back to the game by teaming up with Isla Gordon, portrayed by Kate Hudson.
The character allows Romano to balance humor with a more grounded, emotional edge. “It had a little tenderness to it,” he said of the role.
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Ray Romano also pointed to improvisation as a key part of his experience on set. “It was fun to do the jokes they wrote, and it was fun that they let us do the jokes that they didn’t write and improvise a little,” Romano told PEOPLE.
He said he hopes to explore that creative freedom further in the future. “If there is another season, I’m looking forward to getting into that a little bit more.”
Off-screen, Romano remains connected to basketball through his friendship with Jeanie Buss, CEO and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
That relationship has led to notable seating at games. He revealed, “Well, if it’s in New York, it’s very good. It’s courtside. Over here, it’s different … because everybody wants to see here.”
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The second season of the Netflix comedy premiered in Los Angeles, continuing its story set in the professional basketball world.
