The outpouring of grief and support for the San Antonio Spurs' maestro (and unanimously considered as the greatest head coach in the league currently) Gregg Popovich, continues, after ESPN broke the sad news earlier in the day that Pop's wife, Erin Popovich, passed away.
Erin Popovich, wife of San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, died today, Spurs said in a release. They were married four decades. She had been ill over an extended period.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 19, 2018
Many have already extended their condolences and shared their touching words, from NBA players' Kevin Durant and LeBron James to the Spurs long time general manager RC Buford.
The TNT crew also chimed in with their own thoughts during last night's broadcast. Of particular note was former Los Angeles Lakers big man Shaquille O'Neal, who at his prime, had some tremendous battles with Coach Pop's Spurs.
"There's nothing you can really say. It's a tough situation."
The TNT crew mourns the loss of Erin Popovich, the wife of Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich. pic.twitter.com/zg1Y6pQFS3
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 19, 2018
At the two-minute mark, Shaq recalls a memorable encounter between Coach Pop and his, well, “pop”.
“One time me and Pop had a little altercation, and you know my father’s a military man (like Popovich), and he called me right away and said don’t you ever disrespect Pop again. He told me a story, story goes like this: I was in San Antonio in 1989, couldn’t afford a pair of 18/19 shoes. My father drove over to the Spurs, him and Pop hit it off right away, Pop gave him a couple pairs of shoes, my father brought them back to the house. So Pop, I’m praying for you brother. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
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