San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a light stroke on Nov. 2 and is anticipated to make a full restoration, although a timeline for a return to the bench has not been set, the crew stated.
Popovich, 75, the NBA’s all-time chief for wins as a coach, has missed the final six video games with a beforehand undisclosed well being challenge. The Spurs introduced Popovich’s situation Wednesday and stated he suffered the stroke whereas at Frost Financial institution Heart — San Antonio’s residence area — earlier than a sport in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Popovich has been changed on an interim foundation by assistant Mitch Johnson, who has guided the crew to a 3-3 file in Pop’s absence. In a information launch asserting the coach’s situation, the Spurs stated Popovich has already begun a rehabilitation program and expressed gratitude for “the prolonged neighborhood for offering privateness and area to the Popovich household.”
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— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 13, 2024
Popovich, a graduate of the U.S. Air Pressure Academy, took over as coach of the Spurs in 1996 and steered the franchise to 5 NBA titles — the final coming in 2014. He has amassed 1,393 regular-season wins in 2,220 video games and was thrice named the league’s coach of the 12 months.
The Spurs final reached the playoffs in 2019 and are within the midst of a prolonged rebuild round French sensation, second-year professional Victor Wembanyama. A month after drafting Wemby first general in 2023, the Spurs awarded Popovich a five-year $80 million contract extension to proceed teaching the crew by means of its transformation.
Moreover, Popovich served as head coach for USA Basketball from 2017 to 2021, directing the Individuals on the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China after which the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. It didn’t go so properly in China — USAB completed seventh in that match, the worst putting for an American crew at a World Cup or Olympics — however Popovich rebounded to teach the crew to Olympic gold in 2021.
Popovich is revered by the various appreciable stars he has coached in San Antonio, gamers like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. His teaching tree is intensive and his traditions of taking gamers and coaches to wine-soaked dinners are legendary, as is his sometimes cantankerous perspective towards media.
Popovich can be among the many most outspoken NBA personalities in politics who has over time harshly criticized President-elect Donald Trump, who’s a Republican and has 3 times carried the state of Texas in elections — the place Popovich lives and works.
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(Photograph: Rob Grey / Imagn Photographs)
