Gregg Popovich was leading the Spurs in his 29th season as head coach before he suffered a stroke and had to take time off for his recovery. Pop’s timetable was initially uncertain but according to the latest update by Shams Charania, we now know he’s out for the rest of this season and there’s a chance he may never return to coach again.
“Gregg Popovich is not expected to return to the team this season,” said Shams Charania on NBA Countdown. “He is not going to be back, that’s what the Spurs are operating under. His future is clearly under some uncertainty right now, he hasn’t coached since he had a mild stroke in November. He continues to progress in his rehab from a human perspective. He is getting stronger and stronger. There will be a time and place in the future where he will make determinations and address his long-term future.”
Popovich, 76, is the longest-tenured coach in the NBA. He was hired way back in 1996 and found success right away with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and a vibrant Spurs team. The coaching genius is a 5x champion (1993, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) and 3x Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, 2014).
With his longevity in the game, track record of success, and patented pass-focused offense, Popovich changed the game in his own right and the Spurs have always recognized his value to their team. As he recovers and considers his NBA future, the Spurs will continue to exercise patience as Mitch Johnson leads the show.
In the summer of 2023, Popovich played a crucial role in integrating French superstar Victor Wembanyama. With his vision and proven methods, Pop was trusted to bring out the best in Victor and all the signs were pointing in a positive direction.
It wasn’t until the stroke on Nov. 2 that things took a turn for the worse. Reports claim that Popovich suffered the stroke at the arena, before the Spurs’ 113-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They didn’t announce the incident until Nov. 13, by that point the coach had been long home recovering.
The last we heard, Gregg was on the upswing and he said in a statement that the experience has been a shock for him and his whole family. No doubt, there will be more twists and turns along the way as he continues on the path to recovery.
If that whole thing wasn’t already bad enough for the Spurs, this news comes on top of the recent tragedy involving Victor Wembanyama, who is now set to miss the rest of the season. He looked healthy at All-Star weekend but blood clots are serious and he has no choice but to sit out for the next few months.
The only silver lining in this situation is that it gives De’Aaron Fox an opportunity to shine. With averages of 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, Fox has the potential to be a franchise player for the Spurs. If he can step up and have a strong finish to this injury-riddled season, it will set him up for a breakout season when Victor Wembanyama finally returns.
Whether he’s on the sidelines or working from behind the scenes, Gregg Popovich is going to be around the Spurs and he’s going to be there for his guys whenever he can. Sadly, after this latest medical complication, Popovich may have to take on a new role within the team to stay in good health and avoid a more serious dilemma.
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