Jun 19, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and power forward Tim Duncan (right) embrace during practice before game seven of the 2013 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

“When he’s not at practice, I’m going to be little depressed, I think. It makes me sad. I’m going to miss it an awful lot…I’ll think about it when it happens and it’ll be tough, but until then I’m not going to start being unhappy now.”

Most wouldn’t believe it, but that’s a quote from San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich. In a recent interview with the Washington Post, he talks candidly about the possibility of life after Tim Duncan. In short, Pop dreads the day Duncan’s name won’t be on the roster.

And with each passing day, the finish line for one of the most successful player-coach partnerships in the NBA is pressing closer.

Pop and Duncan have a relationship that spans over 17 years. Both have been with the San Antonio Spurs for their entire NBA careers (Pop spent a season as an assistant coach at Golden State), and you’d be hard-pressed to find another player-coach relationship quite like theirs.

Together, they’ve won five NBA championships, 149 playoff victories, 17 consecutive winning seasons, six NBA Finals appearances, and have never missed the playoffs during the entirety of their run. It’s an unrivalled and unparalleled success story that has, for some reason, been underappreciated by casual fans of the sport. It’s only when they’re confronted with the sheer numbers do they stop and take stock of the greatness that’s truly before them.

But, of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the pair.

Before Pop was the Pop we know and love (or hate), he was still trying to carve a name for himself. In the 1999 lockout threatened season, the Spurs found themselves in a must-win game against the Houston Rockets. The Spurs, in the face of championship-or-bust expectations, had limped to a 6-8 record.

Pop’s job security was at an all-time low. There were even rumours that if the team had lost that night, Doc Rivers would be the favorite to replace him the next day.

Of course, in true Spurs’ fashion, the team rallied. Duncan put up 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a rout for the Spurs.

Another major turning point was Timmy’s free agency in 2000. The Orlando Magic were calling Duncan, and he found himself swaying back and forth between Orlando and San Antonio. The idea of building a dynasty in Orlando alongside Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady was tempting, but ultimately, the strong player/coach bond he had formed with Pop convinced him to stay.

Ever since then, it’s been smooth sailing for the pair.

Through the years, we’ve seen some classic moments from Duncan and Pop. They’ve laughed, smiled, celebrated in wins, and consoled each other in losses. The trust they’ve formed seems to know no bounds. Timmy, despite his superstar status, has never asked for preferential treatment from Pop, and Pop has always seemed to treat his players equally.

Even when Pop shifted the focus of the team’s offense from Timmy to point guard Tony Parker, Duncan quietly accepted the change and trusted Pop’s judgment. In today’s NBA, it wouldn’t be surprising to read about rifts or arguments if a superstar was asked to step aside.

One moment in the Duncan-Pop relationship stands out for me. It was Game 2 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. The Spurs were down big early in the second quarter, and Popovich was visibly upset at Duncan as he made his way to the bench. Both men got into it and an argument ensued.

Duncan then spent the timeout sitting at the scorer’s table alone while the team talked tactics.

Later, we catch this gem of a moment from the two of them.

Let’s face it, there’s no partnership quite like this in the NBA. Heck, you could even extend that qualifier to include ALL professional sports. Many have joked that Duncan and Pop resemble an old married couple, and to be honest, it doesn’t seem farfetched. It’s hard to find a relationship of trust and continuity in the modern-day sporting world.

Which makes it all the more heartbreaking that this could be the last year of their partnership. The end is coming for the best partnership in professional sports, and for all intents and purposes, we should cherish it.

For it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see another quite like it.