Erin Popovich, wife of Spurs head coach, dies at 67

Erin Popovich, the wife of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, died at 67 on Wednesday, the team announced.

She had been ill for an "extended period," ESPN´s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The San Antonio News-Express said she had a respiratory illness.

Erin and Gregg Popovich were married for four decades and had two children and two grandchildren, according to the Spurs.

"We mourn the loss of Erin," Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a statement released by the team.

"She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us.

"Reaction arrived quickly from around the NBA. LeBron James choked up in comments to TNT, saying, "I´m a huge Pop fan. I love Pop. Such a tragedy. The NBA family. we all stick together, compete every night.But something like this puts everything in perspective.

"Steve Nash, an eight-time NBA All-Star, tweeted, "Knowing Pop, it´s fair to assume Erin Popovich was an absolute legend.

My deepest sympathies to Pop and his daughters.

"Warriors forward Kevin Durant said, "The whole NBA family is supporting him, got his back through it all.Feel so bad for Pop.

"Golden State guard Shaun Livingston tweeted, "There is more to life than this game of basketball.

"Gregg Popovich´s team is in the playoffs for the 21st consecutive year, tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history.

The Spurs trail the defending champion Golden State Warriors two games to none with Game 3 set for Thursday in San Antonio.

Assistant coach Ettore Messina would likely take over for Game 3 if Popovich is absent, ESPN´s Michael C. Wright reported.

Erin Popovich was diagnosed with the illness in the mid-1990s, and it kept her from joining her husband at many events she likely would have attended, according to the News-Express.

Her death "is really hard to believe," Spurs guard Danny Green said. "This summer, she was just able to travel and I was so happy for him and her to be able to get away.

"Erin Popovich was a close childhood friend of Betsy Gwin, daughter of Robert McDermott, while growing up in Colorado Springs. Gwin later encouraged her father, then the Spurs chairman, to hire Gregg Popovich as the team´s general manager.

Gregg Popovich took over the GM role in 1994, then became the head coach in 1996."Daddy and I talked about it a lot because he really didn´t know that much about basketball," Gwin told the Express-News in 2015. "But he knew with Gregg he was going to get someone who would work hard and be ethical and be above board and wasn´t out for glory for himself.