San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich had one of the best player-coach relationships in the history of the NBA. Ever since Timmy D was drafted, he and Pop connected right away. They were so close throughout their 19 years together that Popovich believes he and Duncan are getting along better in life than basketball, even though they won five championships.
" We're more soulmates in life than we are in basketball. I've been on his fanny so many times throughout his 19 years, and half the time, he agrees with me, and half the time, he thinks I'm a nut. He is polite enough and mature enough to ignore me and go back out on the court, which allowed me to coach everybody else all those years. But off the court, that's where we're soulmates , " Gregg told ESPN in 2016.
How Duncan and Pop first connected
During the summer of 1997, after Duncan was drafted number one overall by the Spurs , Pop flew to Saint Croix Caribbean Island to visit his franchise big man. When they met, Timmy took his coach into the ocean as far as the rocky outcroppings into the deep water. Both bonded about their love for the water and eventually conversed about life, priorities, and other topics outside basketball. From this trip, an unbreakable bond was formed.
"I really cherish that time," Popovich once said . "It was like an instant respect and understanding of each other. Almost like we were soul mates."
The bond Pop and Timmy D shared translated on the court, where they won five championships together and went to the NBA Finals six times. Duncan became arguably the greatest power forward in NBA history thanks to Popovich's mentorship, which also solidified his case as one of the best coaches ever. The two have played a significant role in each other's success.
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Pop knew Duncan was going to retire before he did
Gregg worked incredibly well with Duncan for 19 years, and he knew him to the core, to the point that he had a hint that the five-time champion was going to retire — even before the latter made his final decision.
It was all because the coach knew how much it irked the Hall of Famer to not be able to help his team at the highest level when he was on the floor. When that happened during Duncan's latter years, Pop already knew that was exactly what the superstar was thinking. On top of this, the four-time NBA All-Star Game head coach also recalled that Duncan hated it when young players would outplay him on the court.
"… It would frustrate him if some young whipper-snapper would make a move on him or do something and look at him like, 'Yeah, I got you.' I wanted to run on the court [and say]: 'No, no, no. That wasn't Tim Duncan that you just did that to.' But the young kid would have the gall to act that way, and I know that frustrated the hell out of him," Popovich once said .
Lo and behold, Duncan retired from the game as one of the greatest players ever, which wouldn't have been possible without Popovich and their bond.
Related: “I gave up after a week” - Gregg Popovich opened up about coaching alongside Tim Duncan
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