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Popovich jokes Duncan is being fined $2,500 every day he doesn't show up

Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich still hasn't come to grips with the fact that the "Big Fundamental" Tim Duncan is no longer with the team following his retirement from the league earlier in the summer.

Perhaps hitting him where he hurts - in his bank account - will convince him to return to action.

"Tim is being fined $2,500 a day every day he doesn't show up," Popovich jokingly told David Aldridge during the first-quarter break of Tuesday's Spurs-Golden State Warriors season opener.

Related: Retired Duncan joins Spurs training camp

Duncan made $239,709,155 in salary over the course of his legendary 19-year career, so he could afford any and all slaps on the wrist Popovich would theoretically have in store for him.

Can you really blame Pop, though? Duncan was the cornerstone of the Spurs since going first overall in the 1997 NBA draft, helping the team win five NBA championships.

He's simply irreplaceable.

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