How the Spurs are learning from the greats who came before them - ESPN

TUCKED AWAY HIGH in the rafters right next to the retired jerseys of Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the banner celebrating Gregg Popovich looks different than the rest of the jersey-shaped mementos honoring greatness at Frost Bank Center.

«POP 1,390,» just above the San Antonio Spurs logo and the words «Hall of Fame.» In recognition of the five championships Popovich brought to the city of San Antonio, five stars line the top of the banner. The number represents Popovich's NBA-record regular-season win total as the club's coach.

When the Spurs quietly raised the banner to the rafters in late October, they didn't send out an announcement. No ceremony commenced at Frost Bank Center, either. Not even the obligatory shoutout from the arena announcer to acknowledge the banner.

This is what Popovich wanted.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson described it as «very Pop-esque.»

Popovich's presence at the Victory Capital Performance Center follows a similar pathway, except it's the franchise's current players who draw attention to Popovich, who stepped down a little more than a year ago after suffering a stroke on Nov. 2, 2024. Now the team's president of basketball operations, Popovich, 77, typically posts up alone in the background at the team's practice facilities after completing his rehabilitation workouts under Duncan's watchful eye.

The Spurs swarm, like mosquitos in the summer.

«It's always great to have Pop around,» said point guard Stephon Castle, who played five games last season for Popovich as a rookie. «Especially at this time, when games matter the most. He's been through it obviously more than anybody else in our organization. When we see him, we go up to greet him all the time. Even if it's not