Kawhi Leonard is a man of few words, rarely one to open up publicly about emotions or relationships. But when news broke of Gregg Popovich’s retirement after nearly three decades of coaching, even Leonard couldn’t hide the impact the legendary San Antonio Spurs coach had on his life and career.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for Gregg Popovich after the San Antonio Spurs head coach stepped down this week. Following Saturday's season-ending 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Leonard said his former coach "had a phenomenal career."

Following the announcement of Gregg Popovich’s retirement from coaching, players who used to play under Popovich, such as Kawhi Leonard, have praised the 76-year-old for his impact on the game. Leonard played a lot of his career under Popovich’s tutelage and achieved a lot during his time with the San Antonio Spurs.