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Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, has officially announced that he will not return to coaching this season, as stated in a release today.
Popovich had a meeting with the Spurs on Thursday, after which he issued a statement regarding his current situation and his aspirations for the coming season. The 76-year-old, who holds the record for the most coaching wins in NBA history, suffered a stroke at the Spurs’ arena on November 2 and has been absent from the team since that incident.
In a team statement, Popovich expressed his intention to prioritize his health, hoping for a future return to coaching. “I’ve made the decision not to return to the sidelines this season,” he stated. “Mitch Johnson and his staff have been exemplary, and the commitment and professionalism shown by the players during this difficult season has been remarkable. I will focus on my recovery with the aspiration of coaching again down the line.”
Popovich has been maintaining communication with Johnson, other team officials, and some players during his hiatus. However, he hasn’t attended any games or practices since his stroke.
His recent visit to the team occurred shortly after the Spurs revealed that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, a contender for the Kia Defensive Player of the Year and a potential All-NBA selection, would not be playing for the remainder of the season due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
Wembanyama, who was the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and came from professional basketball in France, regards Popovich as a significant influence on his career. “Pop isn’t just a coach or a boss,” said the 21-year-old Wembanyama. “He is a leader.”
As for Popovich’s recovery, the Spurs have not provided recent updates, only affirming that he is expected to fully recover. The specifics of his health challenges have not been disclosed by the team since his stroke.
In 2023, Popovich signed a five-year contract extension with the Spurs, securing his position through the 2027-28 season. His only prior public remarks regarding his health and future came in mid-December, where he expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he and his family have received during this period.
Popovich alluded to a possible return to coaching in that December statement, humorously noting, “No one is more eager to see me back on the bench than the incredibly talented professionals overseeing my rehabilitation. They’ve quickly discovered that I’m not the easiest to coach.”
When he had the stroke, Popovich’s coaching record stood at 1,388 wins and 824 losses, while the Spurs have since compiled a record of 22 wins and 30 losses, all under Johnson, which also counts towards Popovich’s career statistics by league rules, as he remains the official head coach.
Popovich is the coach who has spent the most games with a single team, having led the Spurs to five NBA championships and coached the USA Basketball team to an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2021 Games.
The stroke occurred at the Spurs’ arena, where rescue personnel were readily available, allowing him to receive prompt medical attention before being transferred to a nearby hospital.
He is among only three coaches to have won the NBA Coach of the Year award three times, joining Don Nelson and Pat Riley. He is also one of five coaches with at least five championship titles, alongside Phil Jackson (11), Red Auerbach (nine), John Kundla (five), and Riley (five).
Having been with the Spurs for nearly 35 years, Popovich began as an assistant coach from 1988 to 1992, returned on May 31, 1994, as executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager, and took over as head coach on December 10, 1996, after dismissing coach Bob Hill.
This report utilized information from The Associated Press.
