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Gregg Popovich, the legendary head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, suffered a mild stroke on November 2, the team announced on Wednesday. The 75-year-old coach, who holds the record for the most wins in NBA history, is currently in rehabilitation and is expected to make a full recovery, though his timeline for returning to the sidelines remains uncertain.
The stroke occurred at Frost Bank Center, the home arena for the Spurs. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has been filling in as interim head coach in Popovich's absence. "I would say that he's doing good," Johnson commented on November 7, adding that they have been in communication but have not discussed specific recovery details.
Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama, while optimistic about Popovich's recovery, acknowledged that information shared with the players has been limited. "We don't hear a lot from Pop," he said, "but I know he's going to come back soon."
Popovich's absence is felt deeply across the NBA. In his 29 seasons with the Spurs, he has led the team to five NBA championships and amassed 1,390 regular-season wins. As the oldest head coach in NBA history, Popovich has remained a fixture of inspiration and mentorship for players and coaches alike.
The Spurs, who are set to play the Washington Wizards next, continue to receive support from the basketball community as Popovich recovers.
