SAN ANTONIO -- Steve Kerr isn't one to speculate. He also knows the reality of the situation Saturday night in San Antonio. No, this isn't a story about NBA playoff standings.
It's one about Kerr possibly coaching against his longtime friend and mentor Gregg Popovich one last time with the Warriors taking on the Spurs.
"It crossed my mind on the bus today," Kerr said an hour and a half before tipoff. "As we rode here, I wondered if this would be the last time."
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He maintains Popovich hasn't given him any hints to what his future holds. Knowing Popovich, his exit likely won't be a grand goodbye. That isn't his style.
Michael Jordan famously returned to the NBA with a two-word fax that read "I'm back." Popovich might as well have the Spurs send out a two-word tweet reading "I'm done."
Kerr personally hopes Popovich, who has spent his entire 26-year career as a head coach with the Spurs after two seasons as a Warriors assistant, keeps going into the 2022-23 season and beyond.
Let's face it, the league won't feel the same when Pop isn't standing on the Spurs' sidelines or giving the media one-word answers.
Golden State Warriors
This will be Kerr's 26th regular-season game coaching against Popovich and he's looking to even things out after going 12-13 his first 25 contests vs. his old coach. Kerr does have the upper-hand in the playoffs, though, going 8-1 in the Warriors' two series facing the Spurs since he became their head coach. Every game has been more than meaningful with Popovich as his counterpart, but nothing will amount to being on the same Team USA staff and winning gold at the 2020 Olympics.
"It's special every time we play these guys because of the connection that exists, because of the bond that grew even stronger in Tokyo last summer," Kerr said. "Being able to coach with Pop the last few summers with Team USA -- pretty amazing stuff for me.
"I will always cherish every moment I've had with Pop and looking forward to more."
As a player, Kerr spent fours seasons under Popovich in San Antonio and won two NBA championships. He has coached with him and against him. So, with Popovich now 73 years old, is Kerr surprised at all that he's still holding a clipboard?
Not one bit.
"No, because he loves it," Kerr said. "He's so good at it. One of the reasons he's so good at it is because he loves it, he loves doing it. He's still generating the same chemistry, the same good vibes with his team dinners, his charisma and his personality, his personal touch.
"All his players know how much he cares about them. They know how much he wants them to succeed and that his whole goal is to help them succeed, both individually and as a team. The players all feel that, and Pop loves doing it."
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On and off the court, Kerr has soaked in every ounce of knowledge he can from Popovich. That won't end now, and it won't end when Popovich calls it quits.
Saturday night very well might be the last time Kerr coaches against his great friend. The lessons will last a lifetime.