The post garnered widespread responses from the NBA community, including fans, former and current players. Among them was LeBron James, a longtime admirer of Popovich, who shared the tribute on his Instagram story, accompanied by hand raise and heart emojis.

LeBron James is back in the NBA Playoffs chasing what could end up being a fifth championship, but before he hit the court for Game 2 of his Los Angeles Lakers'

There’s a deep mutual respect between the two, but Popovich has faced serious health issues. He hasn’t coached since Oct. 31 after suffering a stroke prior to tip-off on Nov. 2. More recently, he reportedly fainted while dining at a local restaurant, though he’s said to be recovering well.