Basketball coaching legend Greg Popovich has moved to a new stage in his career.
After being forced to sit in the 2024-25 season due to health reasons, Greg Popovich came aside as head coach for the San Antonio Spurs.
Mitchell Johnson took over permanently amid the large respects of Popovich led by former player Kawi Leonard.
Popovich had the privilege of coaching some of the NBA’s greatest players of his time, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobilli and David Robinson.
If there’s one regret he has, then he didn’t get the chance to coach a player drafted by the NBA in 1996 when Popovich began coaching the San Antonio Spurs.
In his love for basketball games, Greg Popovich was able to praise from afar the incredible influence Kobe Bryant had on the NBA.
The five-time NBA champions featured Lakers three-peats between 2000 and 2002.
When Kobe Bryant was praised by the La Lakers in 2017 at his double jersey retirement ceremony, Popovich said he regretted not having the opportunity to coach the legendary player.
Quoted via Brad Turner of the LA Times, Popovich said at the time:
“That’s the best thing I can say about him. It says it all.”
Popovich temporarily had the opportunity to coach Kobe Bryant a year ago during NBA All-Star Weekend, revealing his lasting impression.
He told ESPN: “It was the respect that every player had for him. We’re practicing. We’re becoming a fool and having a good time.
In 2016, Kobe Bryant saw the farewell tour and Popovich admitted he was forced to get caught up in a coaching moment with him.
“I think we won the game at the last minute and at 10 seconds, but he took over the game and enjoyed watching him like how he did it with Michael (Jordan) when he played.
“If I wasn’t careful, I stopped coaching.
The world was dismayed and heartbroken in 2020 when Kobe Bryant crashed a helicopter in which his daughter claimed her life. Kobe Bryant’s sudden death was unsatisfied and heartbroken.
Coach Popovich is a coach among the NBA coaches who led a tribute to the legendary Laker who was fighting for the best parts of 20 years.
He states: “We all know what a great player he is, but he has surpassed great plays. He is an unparalleled competitor and that’s what made him so appealing to everyone, with him as a player.
“Its focus, its competitiveness, its winning. More importantly, we all feel a deep sense of loss for what he meant to all of us in so many ways, and millions of people loved him for so many different reasons.”