San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has confirmed that he will not be returning to coach the team during the 2024-25 season.
Popovich has been away from the team for the past three months after suffering a stroke back in early November that led to a prolonged leave of absence and an indefinite break from working the sidelines.
In his place, Mitch Johnson has been serving as the Spurs’ head coach on an interim basis.
‘I’ve decided to not return to the sidelines this season,’ read Popovich’s official statement.
‘Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding.
‘I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.’
Gregg Popovich has announced he will not return to coach the San Antonio Spurs this year
Mitch Johnson has been the interim coach since Popovich had a stroke in early November
Popovich is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NBA – who currently is the all-time leader in wins.
He also has won the second-most titles of any coach in the league’s existence, tied with Pat Riley with five and behind Phil Jackson, who has 11.
Popovich attended the Air Force Academy, where he played as a guard for four seasons before serving in active duty for five years touring the world as a player on the US Armed Forces Basketball Team.
After his playing days were done, Popovich returned to Colorado Springs to serve as an assistant coach at Air Force.
He would go on to serve two stints as the head coach at Division III Pomona-Pitzer College in California from 1979-1986 and from 1987-88 – with a brief stop as an assistant at college basketball blue blood Kansas in between.
Popovich served two stints as an NBA assistant coach (with the Spurs from 1998-92 and the Golden State Warriors from 1992-94) before taking his first – and only – head coaching job in San Antonio in 1996.
He’s served there ever since and brought five NBA titles to the city in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Along the way, ‘Pop’ has coached some of the greatest players in NBA history – including David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard among others.
Popovich with Tim Duncan after winning his fifth NBA championship back in 2014
Despite great play from Victor Wembanyama (L) and Steph Castle (R) the Spurs are struggling
This season, despite the stellar play of French phenom Victor Wembanyama and Rookie of the Year front-runner Stephon Castle, the Spurs have struggled in Popovich’s absence.
Wembanyama leads the league in blocks and is top-20 in points. Yet, San Antonio sits five-and-a-half games out of the final play-in spot with a record of 24-33.
The Spurs next game is on the road on Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .