Report: Spurs expect Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich to return
The San Antonio Spurs haven’t finished off the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals yet, but plenty of attention has been paid to next season and whether head coach Gregg Popovich and future Hall of Fame power forward Tim Duncan, 38, will return to the team next year.
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It would make for a great story to see the two fade off into the sunset together since they have been together since 1997 after the former Wake Forest big man was the first draft pick of Popovich as head coach of the Spurs after taking over for Bob Hill in 1996.
However, ESPN’s Marc Stein reports the two are expected to be back on the bench and on the court for at least one more season.
"“Amid rising speculation that Duncan and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might ultimately be moved to walk away together in the event that the team goes on to win its fifth overall championship, San Antonio’s two faces of the franchise have routinely deflected any questions about their future plans.But sources say the Spurs, to this point, are quietly operating under the assumption that Duncan and Popovich will indeed be back next season. Both of their current contracts, along with those of fellow Spurs pillars Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, expire after the 2014-15 season, provided Duncan decides to opt in.”"
With Duncan playing well and he and the only head coach he has played for in his NBA career one win away from their fifth NBA title, it would make a great deal of sense to return for another title run considering the team shows little signs of slowing down any time soon, especially with the emergence of 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard.