Shaq reveals Spurs coach Popovich’s act of kindness when the star attended school in San Antonio

San Antonio is missing Coach Gregg Popovich as he stays away from the court for health reasons — and former Alamo City resident Shaquille O’Neal is no exception.

Fans hoped the winningest coach in NBA history would be able to return to finish the 2025 season after suffering what the team called a “mild stroke.” However, those dreams were dashed Feb. 22 when ESPN reported Pop wouldn’t come back this season and his NBA future is “uncertain.”

In response, TNT’s Tuesday Crew aired a segment on the fiery-but-beloved coach and honored his legacy in what would have been his 29th season.

During the heartfelt tribute, NBA Hall of Famer and TNT commentator Shaq, who grew up in San Antonio, revealed that Pop gave him an assist when he needed help pursuing his hoop dreams.

“He did something for me I never talked about,” O’Neal said.

“Growing up, [I] couldn’t really afford a lot of shoes, so my father went to the Spurs organization because they had a guy — Chuck Nevitt — who had size 20 [shoes],” O’Neal said. “My father had a conversation with Coach Popovich. Coach Popovich gave him three pairs of shoes. So, I’ve always loved him and respected him for that. And I’d rather see him healthy, and alive and here on Earth rather than coaching.”

After starting high school in Germany due to his stepfather’s military career, Shaq moved with his family to SA, where he lead the team at Robert G. Cole High School to a 68-1 record over two years. The school also won a state championship while he was on board.

The news that Popovich wouldn’t return this season came just two days after another devastating blow for the Spurs. In that blast of bad news, the team revealed star player Victor Wembanyama was out for the rest of the season with a blood clot.

The absence of both Pop and Wemby leaves fans uncertain the team will have much of a showing this season.

But, according to Shaq, the game is less important than the journey of recovery.
“Coach, we love you,” O’Neal said to the camera. “Get well soon. We respect you, we appreciate you. But, you know, he’s already done enough for the game. I’d rather just see him healthy. I remember that day you gave me those shoes, coach.”

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This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2025.