Kawhi Leonard thanked Gregg Popovich for helping to "build my foundation" after the San Antonio Spurs confirmed their legendary coach's departure.

Popovich brought Leonard to San Antonio in the 2011 draft and the pair worked together for seven seasons, winning the 2014 NBA Championship.

Leonard, then aged 22, won the NBA Finals MVP award as the Spurs overcame LeBron James' Miami Heat.

Popovich only managed to take charge of five games this season before suffering a stroke at the team facility on November 2, and it was confirmed on Friday that he will hand over the reins to Mitch Johnson.

Los Angeles Clippers star Leonard lauded his former mentor, who amassed an NBA-record 1,422 wins after taking over San Antonio in 1996.

"He had a phenomenal career. He coached till pretty much he couldn't, in a sense," Leonard said on Saturday.

"It shows how much dedication he had to the game, how much he loved the game, and how much he gave to the game.

"I appreciate everything he's done for me. Coming into the league, he helped build my foundation and showed me how to win."

29 seasons of coaching brilliance pic.twitter.com/tGzy31hC7f

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 2, 2025

Popovich's 29-year tenure with the Spurs is the longest in NBA history with a single franchise, while his 170 postseason wins are the most by a coach with a single franchise.

He coached six Hall of Fame players in San Antonio: David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Dominique Wilkins and Pau Gasol.

Leonard may hope to become a seventh after departing the Spurs in 2018 to join the Toronto Raptors, before moving to the Clippers.

He hopes Popovich's break from full-time coaching will allow him to return to health, though the 76-year-old will continue in his role as the team's president of basketball operations.

"I want to congratulate him on his career, but also just stay healthy. Also, just stay healthy. Thank you," Leonard concluded.

Leonard's season with the Clippers is over after they suffered a 120-101 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in Saturday's Game 7 decider of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.