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Pop returns the love to LeBron: 'He truly is the King'

D. Clarke Evans / National Basketball Association / Getty

This week, LeBron James called Gregg Popovich the "greatest coach of all time" (you didn't think he'd say Phil Jackson, did you?). On Saturday, before the Spurs and Cavaliers faced off in Cleveland, Popovich had equally tall words for James.

"I've really enjoyed his progression, because now he truly is the King," Pop said, according to the San Antonio Express News' Jeff McDonald. "In the beginning he wasn't. Everybody tried to make him that. He handled it really well. That was a tough situation for a young guy to be in like that, but the fact he rose to that level and earned it, I think is very appropriate and really a tribute to him."

Popovich has known LeBron closely since their involvement on the 2004 Olympic team, and earlier Saturday James said he'd consider suiting up as a 35-year-old in the 2020 Games with Pop taking over its coaching reins.

Popovich has a couple things over James other than age: his Spurs hold a 2-1 record over LeBron's squads in head-to-head Finals series outcomes.

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