After decades of coaching and leading the San Antonio Spurs, there is a sense among the NBA community that Gregg Popovich has coached his last game in the NBA.
At 73-years-old, it’s certainly true that he’s a lot closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
But in a report by Marc Stein, it turns out the legendary coach may stick around for one more season. Here’s what he wrote:
(h/t Rob Goldberg of Bleacher Report)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich could return for “at least one more season,” according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.
Stein reported that “some in Spurs circles” expect Popovich to stay for the 2022-23 season “because he still loves this job and needs to be in the gym.”
What does Pop have to say about his future plans? He didn’t say, and he didn’t want to say. When asked directly, the coach avoided confirmation one way or the other while labeling the ask as “inappropriate.”
After making the playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons, the Spurs missed the postseason for three straight years with a losing record and their most recent run ended by losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in.
Popovich was asked in the post-game press conference if he will return next season for another round but the coach didn’t think the question was proper.
“That question is inappropriate,” he said simply, shutting down any talk about his retirement at the moment.
Popovich has long been regarded as one of the best coaches in the business, and it’s not hard to understand why. Besides his long history of winning and success, players have always raved about being under his leadership.
Internally, there are reports that the Spurs are already considering a replacement for Pop, and that list includes some interesting names.
For now, though, there’s no telling what Popovich plans to do and how much longer he plans to run the locker room.
