Spurs: The greatest moment every 2023 HOF inductee had with and against Popovich

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been calling Gregg Popovich for numerous years, and the gray-bearded head coach finally picked up the phone to accept his nomination after refusing their previous attempts to immortalize his countless achievements.

Popovich will be enshrined along a loaded class of fabled hoopers that have suited up for and against him during his two-plus decades commanding the San Antonio Spurs, and each of them had a unique experience sharing the court with him that helped define their career.

The 74-year-old participated in epic postseason battles versus Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pau Gasol, turned Tony Parker into a perennial All-Star, and opened the door for Becky Hammon to smash the glass ceiling. But these are the pivotal events that tie these legends to Pop.

Dirk Nowitzki: Game 5 of the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals

Diehard Spurs fans might despise Dallas, but everyone has a profound respect for what Dirk Nowitzki accomplished during his magnificent career. The gifted German was an NBA champion, a 14-time All-Star, a regular-season and Finals MVP, and one of seven players in league history with at least 30,000 points. On top of that, he was a massive hurdle for Gregg Popovich and company for two decades.

Despite the divisional rivalry between these interstate competitors being somewhat lopsided in favor of San Antonio during their dynasty, Dirk proved he could make the Mavericks a formidable opponent during his first playoff series against the Silver and Black. Even with chipped teeth, the young forward poured in 42 points, 18 rebounds, and six steals in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Dwyane Wade: Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals

Regardless of what team you cheered for, Dwyane Wade was must-watch television every time he set foot on the court. The electric shooting guard soared above the rim, dusted defenders off the dribble, made a living at the foul line, and suffocated opponents on the perimeter. The two-way superstar also had several unforgettable encounters with Gregg Popovich and the Spurs during the Big Three era.

Perhaps his most famous performance against San Antonio came in Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals when he recorded 32 points, six rebounds, four assists, and six steals to steer the Heat to a blowout victory on the road. Though LeBron James was the clear-cut engine for Miami at this juncture, Wade turned back the clock to help his team even the series and eventually claim back-to-back rings.

Pau Gasol: Trading Buckets with the Twin Towers

Pau Gasol is undoubtedly the best basketball player to ever hail from Spain. The smooth seven-footer scored over 20,000 points in the NBA, was a two-time champion, a six-time All-Star, and had arguably the most decorated international career we have ever witnessed. While he eventually signed with San Antonio, the two sides had multiple memorable matchups before he donned the Silver and Black.

The soon-to-be Hall of Famer averaged remarkable per-game numbers as a rookie, and he cemented his status as an elite frontcourt talent when he came toe-to-toe with Tim Duncan and David Robinson for the first time. Despite falling short of the victory, Gasol dropped 24 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks as he carried an atrocious Grizzlies offense and put himself on the map as a franchise player.

Becky Hammon: Making history and breaking barriers

Becky Hammon holds a special place in the hearts of San Antonians. Not only did she spend the best years of her playing career as the foundation of the Silver Stars, but she made history as the first full-time female assistant in the NBA when she accepted a role with the Spurs in 2014. The South Dakota native continued rising through the ranks, eventually leaving the 2-1-0 to lead the Las Vegas Aces.

Hammon had a handful of iconic moments on the sidelines alongside Gregg Popovich, and she broke another barrier on December 30, 2020. After officials ejected the seasoned playcaller for a profanity-laced reaction to a no-call, Becky assumed clipboard duties for the Spurs, becoming the first woman to ever serve as acting head coach in a regular season contest. Here's to her blazing more trails.

Tony Parker: Becoming the 2007 NBA Finals MVP

The road to the Hall of Fame was anything but straightforward for Tony Parker. San Antonio used their lone first-round pick in the 2001 NBA Draft on the unheralded teenager, and Gregg Popovich ushered him into the starting lineup five games into his rookie season. No one was tougher on the young point guard than his head coach, but he pushed him to become one of the best players of his generation.

While Parker was a co-star who lived in the enormous shadow of Tim Duncan, he took the reins as the face of the franchise with a phenomenal playoff run that culminated in a series sweep of the Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals. All those tongue-lashings from Popovich paid dividends in the long run as the pair formed a unique bond that kept the Spurs offense chugging along like a well-oiled machine.