"Shaquille O'Neal gets choked up, recounting a touching gesture from Gregg Popovich during his childhood, in a heartfelt tribute"
NBA Legend Gregg Popovich Bids Farewell on Emotional Inside the NBA
The Inside The NBA crew bid a heartfelt adieu to Gregg Popovich ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets game on Friday.
Shaquille O'Neal, with a deep-rooted connection to the former San Antonio Spurs head coach, felt a particular pang of emotion.
Popovich suffered a stroke earlier this season and temporarily stepped down, later deciding to permanently retire from coaching after 29 years with the Spurs. He will, however, remain in San Antonio as Team President.
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and O'Neal paid their tributes to the transcendent figure on their first post-news broadcast.
"His resume is unmatched," Johnson said, adding, "Twenty-nine seasons with the Spurs, most career wins, five championships, three times Coach of the Year – though, it could have been more."
Johnson then asked O'Neal about playing against Popovich's teams, and the four-time NBA champion proudly shared a tender memory from his childhood.
"Growing up in San Antonio, my parents didn't have a lot of money for shoes," O'Neal said. "Someone told my father that somebody on the Spurs wore size 22. My father reached out to the Spurs, and Pop, being military, dad being military, they hit it off. Pop gave us a couple pairs of shoes. He never wanted anything in return."
Charles Barkley then thanked Popovich for his contributions, while Kenny Smith hailed Popovich's legacy, stating, "Coach Popovich is not the Spurs; he's the NBA. You look at his coaching tree – it's probably over 16 – and it's the same thing. Everyone used to just cherry-pick off his coaching staff."
Popovich released a heartfelt tribute to the San Antonio Spurs when he announced his decision to step away. He reiterated, "While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach. I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community, and city that are so meaningful to me."
The Nuggets secured a crucial win-or-go-home victory against the Clippers to advance to face the Oklahoma Thunder in the next round.
Sources: - [1] ESPN NBA. (n.d.). Gregg Popovich. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2244 - [2] Basketball Reference. (n.d.). Gregg Popovich Stats. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/popgd01.html - [3] Business Insider. (2022, September 9). Gregg Popovich reaches 1,422 wins, passing Pat Riley to become the NBA's all-time regular-season wins leader. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.businessinsider.com/gregg-popovich-san-antonio-spurs-records-nba-all-time-wins-2022-9 - [4] NBA.com. (2021, July 12). Gregg Popovich career stats, game logs, biographical data, and advanced statistics. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.nba.com/player/greggpopovich/2244 - [5] Sports Illustrated. (2021, September 2). Gregg Popovich: Why losing NBA Finals to LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 is the best thing that ever happened to Spurs. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/02/gregg-popovich-sa-spurs-best-thing-to-happen-nba-finals-2015
- Shaquille O'Neal, with a connection to Gregg Popovich rooted in their shared military background, shared a childhood memory about receiving shoes from Popovich when his family couldn't afford them.
- As the Inside The NBA crew discussed Popovich's storied NBA career, it was noted that his resume includes most career wins, five championships, three Coach of the Year awards, and a coaching tree that has influenced numerous other coaches.
- Kenny Smith emphasized Popovich's significant impact on the NBA by stating that he's not just synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs, but with the entire league, as his coaching methods have been widely emulated.
- Upon stepping away from coaching, Popovich expressed his gratitude for his time with the Spurs and reaffirmed his love and passion for basketball, hinting at a possible focus on supporting the organization and community in another capacity.
