Gregg Popovich not expected to return this season, future remains uncertain

Gregg Popovich not expected to return this season, future remains uncertain

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who suffered a mild stroke in early November, is not expected to return this season with his future being uncertain, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Saturday.

San Antonio Spurs' Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his future is uncertain as he recovers from a mild stroke suffered in November, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EekHlDa8NI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2025

Popovich, 76, was only available to coach the team’s first five games, going 2-3. Assistant head coach Mitch Johnson has served in the interim, going 22-27. Under Johnson’s guidance, the Spurs own the 16th-best offense with the ninth-worst defense and the 18th-best NET Rating.

The longtime Spurs head coach signed a five-year extension ahead of last season that made him the highest-paid contract in the NBA at the time. Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra both signed extensions to topple his contract since. But Popovich remains one of the highest-paid coaches while also serving as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations.

The five-time champion is the winningest head coach in NBA History with 170 postseason victories, one behind Pat Riley and 59 behind Phil Jackson, who owns 11 NBA Titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Victor Wembanyama to miss rest of 2024-25 season with blood clot in right shoulder

Popovich was voted into the top-15 coaches in NBA History in 2024 during the NBA’s 75th anniversary season. You could argue that Popovich is one of the all-time greats with Phil Jackson because of the unparalleled consistency for two decades with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

Unfortunately, it’s a huge bummer that Popovich may not be able to return to coach Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and usher in this new era of Spurs basketball. But being healthy is of the utmost importance and what he’s going through shouldn’t be taken lightly in the slightest. We wish him the best and hope for a very speedy recovery, regardless if he’s able to coach another game or not.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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