Whenever San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich decides to retire, Kansas coach Bill Self could replace him, according to Sam Amick and John Hollinger of The Athletic.

Self, one of the best coaches in college, is very close friends with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.

Yet whenever he steps away, whether it’s after he coaches Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics this summer or sometime thereafter, there’s one name that continues to come up from league sources as a possible replacement: Bill Self, the longtime Kansas coach and close friend of Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.

A quick note as a backdrop here: A source with knowledge of the Spurs’ thinking is quick to make it clear that this monumental choice will be, first and foremost, about what’s best for the organization and not based solely on personal relationships.

Popovich signed a three-year extension with the Spurs in April, but he’s also widely known to be taking a year-by-year approach at this stage of his career. Pop turns 71 in January and has been working with the Spurs since 1988.

As everyone probably knows, Popovich is one of the best coaches in NBA history. He has won five NBA championships with San Antonio as head coach and advanced to the NBA playoffs a league-record 22 consecutive years.