Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for Gregg Popovich after the San Antonio Spurs head coach stepped down this week. Following Saturday's season-ending 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Leonard said his former coach "had a phenomenal career."

The Indiana Pacers selected Leonard with the 15th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft and then traded him to the San Antonio Spurs later that night. The Spurs and their then-head coach Gregg Popovich had seen something special in Leonard that others seemingly hadn't, and they certainly were on the money.

Gregg Popovich and the Spurs announced Friday that he would retire from coaching after a medical issue earlier this season.

Gregg Popovich understood the world. That goes back long before the basketball world knew who he was. It probably can be traced to at least Popovich’s time at the U.S.

Gregg Popovich has stepped down from his role as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 years, but his fingerprints are still all over the NBA. A whole lot of coaches who have worked alongside Popovich have gone on to carve their own path,