Spurs' Gregg Popovich Won't Return During 2024-25 NBA Season After Stroke

Gregg Popovich has confirmed he won't return to coach the San Antonio Spurs this season.

Per NBA insider Chris Haynes, Popovich addressed the team on Thursday for the first time since suffering a stroke in November to inform the players he would miss the remainder of the season.

Popovich issued a statement via the Spurs announcing he will sit out the rest of this season while focusing on his recovery "with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."

The Spurs originally announced on Nov. 2 that Popovich would miss their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to an undisclosed illness. They later revealed on Nov. 13 that he suffered a "mild stroke," but he was expected to make a full recovery.

In a statement released by the Spurs on Dec. 16, Popovich expressed gratitude for the support he and his family have received and he was looking forward to returning to the bench but offered no timetable.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Feb. 22 that Popovich was expected to miss the remainder of this season and his long-term future was "uncertain" as he continues to recover.

Haynes didn't note if Popovich said anything about returning to coaching next season.

Mitch Johnson, who has been a coach in the Spurs organization since 2016 and has been on Popovich's staff since 2019, has served as interim head coach since Nov. 2.

Popovich has been head coach of the Spurs since December 1996 when he replaced Bob Hill. He is the all-time leader in wins among NBA coaches with 1,412 in his legendary career.

The 76-year-old Popovich is also the longest-tenured head coach in NBA history at 29 seasons. Among active coaches, Erik Spoelstra ranks second in his 17th season with the Miami Heat.

San Antonio (24-33) has 25 games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season. The Spurs are 5.5 games behind the Sacramento Kings for the final spot in the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.