Gregg Popovich feels older with no Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan on court for Lakers-Spurs game

Gregg Popovich probably felt a twinge of nostalgia when he walked onto the Staples Center court Friday night. For the first time in his 20 years with the San Antonio Spurs, he coached a game against the Lakers that did not include Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, the former Lakers star who ranks third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points, and Duncan, the former Spurs star who ranks 17th with 26,496 points, both retired last spring, bringing an end to the illustrious 19-year career of Duncan and 20-year career of Bryant.

“It makes me feel older, to be honest with you,” Popovich, 67, said. “But the new young guys who come into the programs are fun. They’re bright-eyed, they’re ready to learn, they’re happy to be there, so you take your satisfaction bringing them along. You quit crying that you lost your 20-year date.”

Lakers Coach Luke Walton, the former Lakers forward who banged bodies with Duncan for several years, said it was “really weird” to see a Spurs team without Duncan.

“As a basketball fan, it’s kind of sad — you miss someone like that, his skill and the type of person he was,” Walton said. “But as an opponent, it’s kind of nice.”

The Spurs, even without Duncan, entered Friday night with a 9-3 record, led by forwards Kawhiap Leonard (25.0 points a game) and LaMarcus Aldridge (17.8), center Pau Gasol (11.6) and point guard Tony Parker.

“You’re always going to struggle when you lose someone like Tim, but they have the best coach in the business right now, and he keeps them sharp,” Walton said. “They’re still one of the premier teams in the league. They execute the heck out of their plays, and they defend like crazy, so the general way that the Spurs have played for the last 15 years is still being played.”

As much as an inside force as Duncan was, on offense and defense, Popovich said what he misses most about the power forward, who led the Spurs to five NBA titles, is his leadership.

“He was really more grounded in how he handled wins and losses,” Popovich said. “He kept everyone on an even keel. He never got too excited about a win or too down after a loss.”

Popovich said he remains in contact with Duncan “almost every day” and that Duncan has an open invitation to come to practice, scout opponents or join the team on an occasional road trip.

“Any time he wants, he can do anything he wants,” Popovich said. “But he’s not going to be hired full time or anything like that. He won’t be coming in to do film work. He’s smarter than that.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna