Report: San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich agree to 5-year contract worth 'more than $80 million'

It seemed like the chatter around Gregg Popovich’s retirement was growing louder over the last couple years. Saturday, he and the San Antonio Spurs appeared to put those talks to rest.

Popovich has agreed to a new five-year deal, the Spurs announced. After the announcement came out, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal is worth “more than $80 million.”

That figure comes in the wake of the Detroit Pistons’ decision to pay Monty Williams a hefty salary. He signed a six-year, $78.5 million contract to become the Pistons’ head coach after the Phoenix Suns fired him.

Popovich, 74, is also the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, and Wojnarowski later added the deal might not mean he coaches for all five years. Instead, he could finish it out even if he decides to move off the court.

Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,366 victories to his name. He also has five NBA titles to his name and gold medal as the head coach of the U.S. National Team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

How Victor Wembanyama could impact Gregg Popovich’s future as Spurs head coach

Speculation about his retirement seemed to stop once the Spurs won the NBA Draft lottery. That gave them the first chance to draft French sensation Victor Wembanyama No. 1 overall, and they did so last month. The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama is seen as a generational talent, and playing under someone of Popovich’s stature could give him quite the jump-start on his career.

Of course, Wembanyama isn’t the first big man to arrive in San Antonio as the No. 1 pick. Popovich has also coached David Robinson and Tim Duncan, who were taken No. 1 in 1987 and 1997, respectively. His track record speaks for itself, which is why his decision to stay on the court isn’t totally surprising.

Wembanyama made his NBA Summer League debut Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets with Popovich in attendance. He didn’t have the best shooting night — he went 2-for-13 from the floor for nine points — but still pulled down eight rebounds and had five blocked shots. His development is key not only for Popovich’s future, but for the Spurs’ future, as well.

San Antonio is coming off a rough 2022-23 season, finishing with a 22-60 record and missing out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. That marks the first time the Spurs have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons under Popovich, who took over as head coach in 1996.