NBA’s longest-serving coach, Gregg Popovich, faces health scare, sidelined indefinitely

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich steps away for health reasons, with assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepping in as interim head coach.

NBA’s longest-serving coach, Gregg Popovich, faces health scare, sidelined indefinitely

San Antonio Spurs HC Gregg Popovich

It was a sad day for the San Antonio Spurs as it was announced that head coach Gregg Popovich is temporarily stepping away from the team due to a “health issue,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. However, to ensure continuity, assistant coach Mitch Johnson will assume interim head coaching duties indefinitely.

The situation arose before their Saturday’s 113-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves when Gregg Popovich was noticeably absent from the bench. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest head coaches in NBA history, as he boasts five championships as well as an all-time record of 1,391 regular-season wins.

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Despite the Spurs’ rebuild in 2022-23, Popovich’s commitment to the team was reaffirmed with a five-year, $80 million contract extension ahead of the 2023-24 season. Although, it seems like his glory days when he had the likes of Tim Duncan and David Robinson to call upon, are far behind him.

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The Spurs’ fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft. Although the team matched their 22-60 record from the previous season, Wembanyama’s emergence as a unique talent and the Spurs’ 3-3 start suggest progress this year.

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Basketball fans are surely going to miss the one constant face of the Spurs organization. Prior to his undisclosed sickness, he broke the internet with his sharp remarks aimed at former President Donald Trump.

Mitch Johnson takes the Reins as Spurs’ interim coach amid Popovich’s health issue

Despite the sad nature of the news, continuity is key and as such, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson will assume interim coaching duties. Johnson is a familiar face, as he has served under Popovich since 2019 and is considered one of the NBA’s top young assistant coaches.

Prior to being a part of the coaching staff alongside Popovich, Johnson’s coaching background includes stints with the Austin Spurs (G League affiliate) and as a player, he had a four-year collegiate career at Stanford.

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This season, the Spurs, currently have a 3-3 record, an improvement from last season and they will rely on Johnson to continue developing phenom Victor Wembanyama, who’s currently averaging 18 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3 blocks per game.