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Kevin Durant loves Popovich as head coach of USA Basketball

Thunder superstar elated at the news of the Spurs coach's selection.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday Gregg Popovich was named as Mike Krzyzewski's successor as the head coach of Team USA Basketball. His tenure is set to begin in 2017 and will end in 2020. The world of basketball showered Pop with praise and congratulations (much to his chagrin, no doubt) as he was the obvious choice for the job if interested. Kevin Durant was among the countless people praising both the move and Popovich.

The star of a rival team, even one as classy as Durant, reacting to the news and praising Coach Pop in the manner he did bears special significance.

Does this mean that we can start getting our #KDtoSA hashtags ready with Durant's free agency looming next summer? Unfortunately, the realistic answer is "hell no." But as we've seen before, when a former University of Texas player displays much love and respect for someone within the Spurs organization, it may just be a sign of things to come.

Or not. Regardless, even a spoiled-rotten fanbase is still allowed to dream. Congrats, Coach Pop!