Gregg Popovich will be away from the Spurs for an indefinite period due to a health issue.
Popovich, 75, suffered the health issue ahead of San Antonio's game against Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Spurs initially announced Popovich would miss Saturday's game with an undisclosed illness. In Popovich's absence, assistant coach Mitch Johnson led San Antonio to a 10-point win.
What happened to Popovich? Here is what is known about the legendary's coach health.
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What happened to Gregg Popovich?
Popovich suffered a mild stroke ahead of San Antonio's game on Saturday, Nov. 2, the Spurs announced.
Ahead of that game, Johnson handled pregame duties with reporters, saying "[Popovich is] not feeling well. This has happened before and I think everybody's just gotta be ready for the next man up, right? … He's just not feeling well."
In San Antonio's official announcement, the franchise added that Popovich "has already started a rehabilitation program" and "is expected to make a full recovery."
A timeline for his return to coaching has not been provided.
The Spurs initially did not disclose any more information on the nature of Popovich's health issue. Popovich did not travel with the team for its two-game road trip to Los Angeles and Houston, and Johnson will continue to serve as the interim head coach.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, ESPN's Shams Charania Charania added more context on what he heard about Popovich's situation.
"I'm told that it was a serious health issue that the Spurs dealt with and Gregg Popovich dealt with over the weekend," Charania said on ESPN.
"It was a situation on Saturday night pregame that Gregg Popovich needed medical attention in San Antonio. It is still uncertain when he's going to make it back on the floor — on the sidelines for this team. There is a great level of concern around the situation."
"There is a great level of concern around the situation."@ShamsCharania with the latest on Gregg Popovich being out indefinitely after suffering a health issue Saturday. pic.twitter.com/FXePQNlu1M
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 5, 2024
Popovich is the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA and the winningest coach in league history. He took over during the 1996-97 NBA season and is now in his 28th full season as San Antonio's head coach.
Popovich will turn 76 on Jan. 28, 2025.
Who is Mitch Johnson?
Johnson is an assistant coach for the Spurs. He is in his ninth season with the organization and his fifth on San Antonio's bench.
Before joining Popovich's staff, Johnson spent three seasons as an assistant with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio's G League affiliate. Johnson was San Antonio's head coach during the NBA Summer League in 2022 and 2023.
He played collegiately at Stanford and played professionally in the G League and in Europe.
This story will be updated.
