Legendary San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has announced that he is stepping away from his full-time coaching duties following another recent health emergency. The announcement, which came during an unscheduled press conference at the AT&T Center on Sunday afternoon, has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA community.
Popovich, who turned 76 earlier this year, was hospitalized late last week due to what the team described as a “serious but manageable health scare.” Though specifics about the medical incident have not been disclosed, sources close to the organization suggest it is the second such event in less than a year.
With his voice shaking at times, Popovich addressed the media, players, and fans: “This organization is my family, and these players mean the world to me. But my health has to come first. After speaking with my doctors, family, and the front office, I’ve made the decision to step down from the day-to-day responsibilities as head coach. This isn’t goodbye — it’s just a change.”
Popovich made it clear that while he will no longer handle the full rigors of coaching, he will remain with the franchise in an advisory and mentoring role. “I’ll still be around,” he said with a smile. “Just not yelling at refs quite as much.”
Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since 1996 and led them to five NBA championships, is considered one of the greatest coaches in basketball history. His decision marks the end of an era in San Antonio — though team officials say they’ve been quietly preparing for this transition over the past year.
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson is expected to assume interim coaching duties for the remainder of the season. Spurs players, many visibly emotional, rallied behind their beloved coach.
“This is bigger than basketball,” said Victor Wembanyama. “Coach Pop means everything to us. We support him 100%.”
As Popovich steps into a new role, one thing is certain: his legacy in San Antonio — and the NBA — remains untouchable.
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