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- Russell Westbrook’s team-first message should give Lakers fans hope for upcoming 2022-23 campaign
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Gregg Popovich gushes over year 18 LeBron James ahead of Lakers-Spurs matchup
- Updated: December 31, 2020
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has watched Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James over his entire NBA career and remains amazed as James is starting up his 18th season.
Gregg Popovich on LeBron’s sustained excellence in Year 18: "It’s a tribute to his tenacity level … his commitment to excellence. He deserves a lot of credit for being the consumate professional. His mental state along with his physical state really makes him really special."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 30, 2020
Both James and Popovich have previously expressed deep respect for each other’s accomplishments, with Popovich leading the Spurs to five NBA titles and James winning four championships with three different teams.
Popovich’s titles with the Spurs have been aided by the type of unselfish play that James has embodied over the course of his legendary career.
On three different occasions, James has faced Popovich’s Spurs in the NBA Finals, with Popovich holding a slight 2-1 edge in those meetings.
In 2007, Popovich and the Spurs swept James’ undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers team. Six years later, James forged a comeback from a 3-2 finals deficit to win the 2013 NBA title in seven games for the Miami Heat and win Finals MVP honors for his effort.
Just one year later, Popovich and the Spurs got revenge by defeating James and the Heat again.
James and Popovich are now battling within the Western Conference, but it seems unlikely that the Spurs will be challenging for another title in the near future.
Despite that status, Popovich isn’t likely to lose any of the respect for James’ body of work by the time the veteran retires.
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