San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will remain away from the team for an undetermined period as he recovers from a mild stroke.
The organization announced Wednesday that Popovich suffered a mild stroke ahead of a game on Saturday, Nov. 2. Popovich received immediate medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery as he continues to progress through a rehabilitation program, per the team.
Popovich will turn 76 in January and is the oldest head coach among the four major North American men’s sports leagues. In the wake of his health issue, there is a question of whether or not Popovich will return to the sidelines or retire from coaching. Here is what has been said.
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Will Gregg Popovich retire?
The Spurs shared that a timeline for Popovich’s return to coaching has not been determined. There have been no reports suggesting Popovich will retire.
Interim head coach Mitch Johnson provided an encouraging update on Popovich ahead of the Spurs’ game on Nov. 4. In a prepared statement, Johnson said, “He’s OK — he will be OK. And we can’t wait to have him back,” suggesting that Popovich plans to return to coach.
Star forward Victor Wembanyama echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “They keep us informed as much as we’re allowed to know. So, I’m not worried about him. I know he’s going to come back soon.”
In addition to his role as San Antonio’s head coach, Popovich is the franchise’s president of basketball operations.
Popovich is the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA and the winningest coach in league history. He took over during the 1996-97 NBA season and is now in his 28th full season as San Antonio’s head coach.
The news of Popovich’s stroke comes 11 games into the new season. With over 70 games and six months remaining, there is a large span of time to facilitate a potential return to coaching.
Pop is home and on the road to a full recovery. A timeline for his return has yet to be determined, but he sent a message to his team saying that when he is back, he will be back — essentially telling the team he will focus on getting better while they focus on winning under Johnson.
“When we walk into the building each and every day, we feel [Popovich’s] leadership, we feel that presence,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said Wednesday. “And so not having him, there’s clearly a void. And we miss him.”
Reporting for NBA Countdown on Gregg Popovich’s status after a mild stroke, and his message to the Spurs and interim coach Mitch Johnson, who will be at the helm for the foreseeable future: pic.twitter.com/kyI78BFf7x
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 14, 2024
This story will be updated.