Gregg Popovich not expected to return this season and long-term future is uncertain
Popovich’s stroke occurred at the arena prior to the Spurs’ matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 2. He was treated by emergency personnel and the team initially said he would be out due to an unspecified illness. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson was named interim head coach and has served in that role ever since.
Nearly two weeks later on Nov. 13, the Spurs confirmed that Popovich had suffered a mild stroke. In a press release at the time, the Spurs said that Popovich had already started a rehabilitation program and was “expected to make a full recovery.”
Popovich released a statement on Dec. 16 thanking everyone for their support and expressing a desire to return to the sideline at some point:
“This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me. As we work together on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we’ve received has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way. While I wish I could get back to each one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful. We’re thankful for our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends.
“No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They’ve quickly learned that I’m less than coachable.”
Popovich, 76, has been the Spurs’ coach since 1996 and also serves as the team’s president of basketball operations. During his tenure he’s led the Spurs to five championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014) and has been named NBA Coach of the Year three times (2003, 2012 and 2014). He is the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,390 regular-season wins and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
The report that Popovich will not be back this season is the latest blow for the Spurs, who recently had to shut down big man Victor Wembanyama due to a deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder. The French phenom is expected to make a full recovery and return to the court for the 2025-26 season.
If the Spurs do indeed miss the playoffs, that would extend their playoff drought to a franchise-worst six seasons.
