How Gregg Popovich quietly became the Spurs’ secret weapon: ‘He’s speaking life into you’

NBA Playoffs

Gregg Popovich is no longer the Spurs' head coach, but he's played a vital role behind the scenes in San Antonio's rise this season. Michael Gonzales / NBAE via Getty Images

SAN ANTONIO — Devin Vassell can’t wait to hear what El Jefe has to say. He’s sitting at a podium in the southeast corner of the gym but can see his former coach and current mentor all the way across the room. A little white head of hair, a dot in the distance, with a long cane and an undercover smile.

Vassell, the 25-year-old wing, has become one of the vets of this young Spurs team, a steady hand who always keeps his cool. He walks around the building with the demeanor of a shooter who knows it’s going down every time. It won’t, but that doesn’t change a thing.

It’s easy to think that way when he has the NBA’s all-time winningest coach pumping confidence into him.