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Duncan is leaving. In some respects, everything is changing. In others, nothing will.
“I think it will be a seamless transition for the team,” former NBA coach and current TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy said. “I think who it’s going to be hard on is Gregg Popovich.”
Popovich gave no indications otherwise Tuesday.
All in one answer – the premise being picking one person in history to have dinner with – Popovich made mention of Mother Teresa, Jesus, the Dalai Lama, William F. Buckley, Gore Vidal and actor John Cleese. But given the choice between any of those people, or anyone else, Popovich said he would choose to dine with Duncan.
“I can honestly tell you my dinner would be with Timmy,” Popovich said. “And it would be because he’s the most real, consistent, true person that I’ve ever met in my life.”
“I can be on him in a game and ask him why he’s not rebounding in a relatively stern way and really get on him in front of everybody,” Popovich continued. “And on his way back to the court, he’ll say, ‘Thanks for the motivation, Pop. Thanks for the support, Pop.’ Then he’ll turn away with his eyes up in the air and we’ll both start laughing. And people don’t see those things. But his teammates have and that’s why his teammates love him.”
Duncan will go down as one of the best to ever play the game, and Popovich said he was the best teammate any Spurs player could have had.
Duncan and Popovich won more games together than any player-coach combination in NBA history — and Popovich said he owes his own success to the now-retired star, not the other way around.
To think of a season without Duncan, Popovich said, is mindboggling.
“I would not be standing here if it wasn’t for Tim Duncan,” Popovich said.
“I’d be in the Budweiser league, someplace in America, fat and still trying to play basketball or coach basketball. He’s why I’m standing.” Katelyn Gallant of Miscouche prepares to throw in the under-14-15 girls shot put event at the recent Acadian Games in Caraquet, N.B. The 15-yearold daughter of Rachel and Greg Milligan won the gold medal in the event with a record throw of 11.29 metres.