Photo Of Victor Wembanyama, Gregg Popovich Goes Viral Before Spurs vs. Thunder

Victor Wembanyama only got one year and change of coaching from legendary Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich before his retirement last year. But the two clearly still have a bond and showed it ahead of Game 3.

Video from the Spurs shootaround ahead of Game 3 at the Frost Bank Center shows the two sitting on the couch and talking. It's not entirely clear what the two were talking about, but Wembanyama was clearly taking in everything his former coach had to say.

Confidence Booster

At 1-1 in the series, Spurs fans believe that the team is going to be extra motivated to win Game 3 knowing that Popovich is there to support him.

"Yea they winning this game... pop gave him the talk again," one user declared.

"If we win tonight, I'm seriously going to start believing in the power of friendship," another declared.

"Once a coach, always a coach, never try to change Pop," wrote a third.

"Another Wemby masterclass incoming."

"Last time they talked Wemby went crazy…"

"Btw everytime they show a picture of Vic and popovich before the game, they win that game. I know I'm not the only one that seen the pattern."

"Wemby quadruple double incoming."

Popovich suffered a stroke in November 2024 and stepped down as head coach of the team the following May. His tenure ended as the NBA's all-time leader in wins along with five NBA titles, six trips to the NBA Finals, 22 straight playoff appearances between 1998 and 2019, and numerous Hall of Famers developed.

Whether the team can win a championship in their first full season of the post-Popovich era, we'll soon find out.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 2:44 PM.