After Wang Yi slapped those guys in the face at lightning speed, he once again played a battle of wits with Popovich in Game 5.
But he wasn't able to win that game. Popovich had outmaneuvered them tactically.
By Game 6, the two sides were still locked in a battle of wits and wills.
Wang Yi held a slight edge in this game.
He once again rolled out a three-tower lineup to counter the opponent's high-speed offense, and this time, the lineup delivered exactly as it was supposed to.
On top of that, the Kings' reserve, Mane, exploded in this game, scoring 28 points off the bench.
He scored more points by himself than all the Spurs' reserves combined.
As Popovich watched Mane, his eyes were filled with memories of Manu in his prime.
In the end, the Kings defeated the Spurs 4–2.
Overall, in those six games, Wang Yi had won only one through his individual ability. Of the other three victories, he had won them through his coaching skills.
Popovich understood that if that guy Wang Yi went all out, then no matter how good a coach he was, it would be difficult to contain him. The series might have ended 4–0 instead of 4–2.
But there was no denying that even without relying on his individual ability, Wang Yi had beaten him three times through his coaching alone. Popovich had to admit defeat.
During the final post-game interview, he said, "Looks like it's time for me to retire."
A reporter asked him, "If—I mean, if—you were to retire this season, would you have any regrets about your time in the NBA?"
Popovich thought for a moment, then answered, "If I still have any regrets about my time in the NBA, it's that I never got to coach