Lakers' LeBron James Praises 'Special' Victor Wembanyama and Spurs' Gregg Popovich
For an entire generation of basketball fans, only two things have remained constant: Gregg Popovich leading the San Antonio Spurs, and LeBron James playing high-level basketball.
There are a lot of fans (including yours truly) who have not lived in a world without Popovich at the helm of the Spurs, and who can't remember a league that James didn't dominate.
October 22, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) meets with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich before the first half at Staples Center.
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Despite only a brief overlap when Popovich was an assistant coach for the 2004 Olympics, the two have never been on the same team, but have an infinite amount of respect for one another.
After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Spurs, led by James's 30 points, he gushed about Popovich. "One of the greatest coaches of all time, but more importantly one of the best people of all time that I've ever been around," said James.
"I love everything about Coach Pop and to be able to share the court with him and to be able to talk to him and have the friendship that we have, it's very special to me."
While the comments are definitely the result of two decades of fierce competition and watching each other grow and develop into names synonymous with basketball, there is some merit to the rumors that James might want to play for the Spurs.
Pushing 40 years old, James's dominance and longevity are unparalleled in league history, so spending his twilight alongside one of his favorite people and a burgeoning young star who is expected to supplant James as the face of the league might be an ideal way to go out.
After Victor Wembanyama posted another historical stat line in the loss to the Lakers, James's praise was not just limited to Popovich.
"[Wembanyama] has an unbelievable coach who's going to make sure he does things the right way, play the game the right way, and he's going to continue to develop, but he's already special and he's going to continue to get better and better and better," said James postgame.
James also took to social media to showcase the awe he felt sharing the court with Wembanyama.
While it seems like a bit of a stretch to suggest that James will sign with a rebuilding team in free agency, it might be the ride off into the sunset that he's been hinting at all year.
For the Spurs, there really isn't a better duo than James and Popovich to help introduce Wembanyama to the league.
