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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been part of the team for nearly 35 years<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has ruled out a return to the sidelines this season via a statement released today.<\/p>\n
Popovich met with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, releasing a statement afterward to make his decision on this season \u2014 and hope for next season \u2014 public. The 76-year-old Popovich, the NBA\u2019s all-time coaching wins leader, had a stroke at the team\u2019s arena in San Antonio on Nov. 2<\/a> and has been away from the team since.<\/p>\n Via a statement<\/a> from the team, Popovich says he will \u201ccontinue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season,\u201d Popovich said in his statement. \u201cMitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/qFu4nyAjo0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Popovich has been in regular contact with Johnson, some team officials and has talked with some players at times during his absence \u2014 but he has not been seen at games or been known to be at any practices since the stroke happened.<\/p>\n Popovich\u2019s visit to the team came a week after the Spurs announced that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama \u2014 the Kia Defensive Player of the Year favorite at the time and someone who was a serious candidate to make the All-NBA team \u2014 will not play again this season<\/a> after deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, was found in his right shoulder.<\/p>\n Wembanyama, who came to San Antonio as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft after playing as a pro in France, has called Popovich his biggest basketball influence.<\/p>\n \u201cPop isn\u2019t just a coach or a boss,\u201d the 21-year-old Wembanyama said earlier this month. \u201cPop is a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n The Spurs have not updated Popovich\u2019s rehabilitation process in some time, other than saying that he is expected to make a full recovery. The team has not revealed what, if any, issues Popovich has been dealing with since the stroke.<\/p>\n Popovich agreed to a five-year contract extension with the team in 2023<\/a>, one that would have him signed to be on the sideline through the 2027-28 season. His only public comment before Thursday about his health and his future came in mid-December<\/a>, when he said he and his family were overwhelmed by \u201cthe outpouring of support we\u2019ve received during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Popovich mentioned returning to coaching in that statement, but did not reveal any timetable in a self-deprecating quip. \u201cNo one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process,\u201d Popovich said in the December statement. \u201cThey\u2019ve quickly learned that I\u2019m less than coachable.\u201d<\/p>\n Popovich\u2019s record was 1,388-824 when he had the stroke, and the Spurs\u2019 record since \u2014 22-30, all with Johnson serving as the active coach \u2014 also goes toward his career numbers by league rule, since he is still listed as the team\u2019s coach.<\/p>\n No coach has been with one team for more games than Popovich, who has led the Spurs to five NBA championships and guided USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.<\/p>\n The stroke happened at the team\u2019s arena, and since rescue workers were there, Popovich was able to start receiving treatment almost immediately. He was transported to a nearby hospital.<\/p>\n Popovich is one of only three coaches to win the NBA coach of the year award three times, Don Nelson and Pat Riley being the others. He\u2019s one of five coaches with at least five NBA titles; Phil Jackson (11), Red Auerbach (nine), John Kundla (five) and Riley (five) are the others.<\/p>\n Popovich has been part of the Spurs for nearly 35 years. He was an assistant coach from 1988-92, then returned to the club on May 31, 1994, as its executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager. He fired coach Bob Hill and appointed himself coach on Dec. 10, 1996.<\/p>\n Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.<\/p>\n