The San Antonio Spurs won five NBA Championships under former head coach Gregg Popovich, who announced his retirement after 29 seasons earlier this week. The Popovich retirement signaled the end of an era for the Spurs and a marked a new path forward under Popovich's successor Mitch Johnson.

As Gregg Popovich stepped down from his post as San Antonio Spurs coach and transitioned to a front office role as the team's president this week, endless tributes for the winningest coach in NBA history followed.

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.