Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been a part of the group for almost 35 years
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has dominated out a return to the sidelines this season by way of an announcement launched at the moment.
Popovich met with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, releasing an announcement afterward to make his choice on this season — and hope for subsequent season — public. The 76-year-old Popovich, the NBA’s all-time teaching wins chief, had a stroke on the group’s area in San Antonio on Nov. 2 and has been away from the group since.
Via a statement from the group, Popovich says he’ll “proceed to deal with my well being with the hope that I can return to teaching sooner or later.”
“I’ve determined to not return to the sidelines this season,” Popovich stated in his assertion. “Mitch Johnson and his employees have performed a beautiful job and the resolve and professionalism the gamers have proven, sticking collectively throughout a difficult season, has been excellent. I’ll proceed to deal with my well being with the hope that I can return to teaching sooner or later.”
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 27, 2025
Popovich has been in common contact with Johnson, some group officers and has talked with some gamers at instances throughout his absence — however he has not been seen at video games or been recognized to be at any practices for the reason that stroke occurred.
Popovich’s go to to the group got here every week after the Spurs introduced that All-Star middle Victor Wembanyama — the Kia Defensive Participant of the Yr favourite on the time and somebody who was a critical candidate to make the All-NBA group — will not play again this season after deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, was present in his proper shoulder.
Wembanyama, who got here to San Antonio because the No. 1 decide within the 2023 Draft after taking part in as a professional in France, has referred to as Popovich his largest basketball affect.
“Pop isn’t only a coach or a boss,” the 21-year-old Wembanyama stated earlier this month. “Pop is a frontrunner.”
The Spurs haven’t up to date Popovich’s rehabilitation course of in a while, aside from saying that he’s anticipated to make a full restoration. The group has not revealed what, if any, points Popovich has been coping with for the reason that stroke.
Popovich agreed to a five-year contract extension with the group in 2023, one that will have him signed to be on the sideline by the 2027-28 season. His solely public remark earlier than Thursday about his well being and his future got here in mid-December, when he stated he and his household had been overwhelmed by “the outpouring of help we’ve acquired throughout this time.”
Popovich talked about returning to teaching in that assertion, however didn’t reveal any timetable in a self-deprecating quip. “Nobody is extra excited to see me return to the bench than the proficient people who’ve been main my rehabilitation course of,” Popovich stated within the December assertion. “They’ve rapidly discovered that I’m lower than coachable.”
Popovich’s document was 1,388-824 when he had the stroke, and the Spurs’ document since — 22-30, all with Johnson serving because the lively coach — additionally goes towards his profession numbers by league rule, since he’s nonetheless listed because the group’s coach.
No coach has been with one group for extra video games than Popovich, who has led the Spurs to 5 NBA championships and guided USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal on the Tokyo Video games in 2021.
The stroke occurred on the group’s area, and since rescue employees had been there, Popovich was capable of begin receiving remedy virtually instantly. He was transported to a close-by hospital.
Popovich is one in all solely three coaches to win the NBA coach of the yr award 3 times, Don Nelson and Pat Riley being the others. He’s one in all 5 coaches with at the very least 5 NBA titles; Phil Jackson (11), Crimson Auerbach (9), John Kundla (5) and Riley (5) are the others.
Popovich has been a part of the Spurs for almost 35 years. He was an assistant coach from 1988-92, then returned to the membership on Might 31, 1994, as its government vp for basketball operations and basic supervisor. He fired coach Bob Hill and appointed himself coach on Dec. 10, 1996.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
