Gregg Popovich usually is terse, ornery and anything but emotional when speaking to the media.
But the San Antonio Spurs coach made a wonderful exception Tuesday.
In an event befitting the player, the Spurs held a “news conference” for Tim Duncan’s retirement that featured only Popovich addressing a small group of reporters at the team’s practice facility.
Popovich made the most of the moment, however, opening up about just how much the legendary forward — who spent all of his 19 seasons in San Antonio — means to him.
“I would not be standing here if it wasn’t for Tim Duncan,” Popovich said, via ESPN.com. “I’d be in the Budweiser League someplace in America, fat and still trying to play basketball or coach basketball. But he’s why I’m standing.
“He’s made livings for hundreds of us, staff and coaches, over the years and never said a word, just came to work every day. Came early, stayed late, was there for every single person, from the top of the roster to the bottom of the roster, because that’s who he was, in all those respects.”
But the best part of the press conference, which Duncan didn’t even attend after announcing his retirement Monday through the team, came when Popovich got emotional recalling an interaction with Duncan’s late father.
It’s clear Popovich and Duncan share a special bond, and the Spurs coach paying tribute to Duncan’s strong character was the perfect way to send San Antonio’s quiet star off into the sunset.
You can check out Popovich’s full press conference below.
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
