Popovich hopes he won't cry when Spurs retire Duncan's jersey

Expect plenty of waterworks when Tim Duncan's No. 21 is raised to the rafters Sunday night.

Having captured five championships while leading his side for nearly two decades, Duncan will return to AT&T Center for the San Antonio Spurs to retire his jersey before familiar faces.

Head coach Gregg Popovich, who oversaw every season of Duncan's storied career, will attempt to stay dry-eyed. Whether he succeeds is another matter altogether.

"When you've been with somebody for 20 years, it's pretty emotional. It's already been that way, so hopefully there is none of that left in there. Hopefully, I will be good. Hopefully, I won't be tearing up," Popovich told Marc Spears of the Undefeated.

Manu Ginobili, no spring chicken himself, joked that Duncan could return any time - especially since he's constantly in the facilities to train with current Spurs.

"If he ever wants to be back, we will bring (the jersey) down and he can wear it again," Ginobili said.

But despite the weekly workouts at the Spurs facility, and the fact Duncan could probably still play, the future Hall of Famer is happy with his decision.

"I talk to him all the time. We had poker night at my house … We laugh and talk," Tony Parker said. "It's just different, for me, obviously, because we have so many new guys. But the bond, the friendship we created for him, will be forever. He lives five minutes from my house. He's very happy."