Gregg Popovich is one of the best and most accomplished coaches in the game. He’s won 5 championships while coaching the San Antonio Spurs and has brought them to the playoffs many times, even with rosters that weren’t as talented as their competitors. He’s an all-time great for the Spurs franchise.
There is no question that Gregg Popovich has had a career that many coaches could only dream of. However, all good things must come to an end, and there have been prior rumors of Gregg Popovich potentially retiring at the end of the 2021-22 season. Zach Lowe notably stated that “no-one is sure if Gregg Popovich would coach beyond this season”, though he did add that sources “wouldn’t be surprised” if he returned for a year after that.
A recent report by Jake Fischer has given new information on the situation, and it is mentioned that there’s a “growing belief in league circles” that Gregg Popovich may retire at the conclusion of next season. Fischer also mentioned that Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are among the potential candidates to replace him.
There’s a growing belief in league circles that Gregg Popovich, after leading Team USA to a gold medal this summer and just 26 victories shy of passing Don Nelson for the NBA’s all-time wins record, could finally walk away from San Antonio’s sideline following the 2021-22 campaign.
The fact that Spurs officials and rival team personnel persistently whisper about his eventual retirement, when it will arrive, and who will ultimately replace him, is noteworthy in itself.
Tim Duncan is frequently mentioned, yet few league figures connected to San Antonio believe the Hall of Fame power forward has any intention of pursuing a coaching career, following his brief stint as an assistant.
Recently, Manu Ginobili’s name has surfaced after the champion guard rejoined the Spurs in a nebulous basketball operations role. “If there’s a former player who has the basketball IQ and the EQ to do it, it’s Manu,” a veteran executive with knowledge of San Antonio said.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are both legends for the San Antonio Spurs, and it seems as though both could provide their own unique insight as head coaches. We’ve seen former players such as Steve Kerr become wildly successful coaching, so perhaps Ginobili and Duncan would be able to do the same if hired.
It remains to be seen whether Gregg Popovich will end up retiring at the end of next season, or whether he ends up going another year. Regardless of when he retires though, he’ll always be viewed fondly by San Antonio Spurs fans.
