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San Antonio Spurs reveal Gregg Popovich suffered mild stroke, timeline for return still unknown

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•11/13/24•

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Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs revealed head coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke on November 2nd, according to a release.

Earlier this month, the team announced Popovich suffered an undisclosed health issue before a weekend game. He is currently out indefinitely.

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The full statement can be read below.

“The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Head Coach Gregg Popovich has suffered a mild stroke,” the statement read. “The episode occurred on Nov. 2 at the Frost Bank Center. Popovich, who has already started a rehabilation program, is expected to make a full recovery. At this point, a timeline for his return to the sidelines has not been determined. During this time, the organization is grateful to the extended community for providing privacy and space to the Popovich family.”

Popovich has been the Spurs’ head coach since 1996. He is the NBA’s all-time wins leader and a five-time NBA champion. For his efforts, he’s been named the NBA Coach of the Year three times and has been chosen to serve as a coach in the NBA All-Star Game four times.

Last year, Popovich was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

“There are so many people out there like me, whose lives have been impacted so dramatically and so positively by Pop,” Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “You can take all the accomplishments, the championships, the wins and everything else, and it’s all meaningful. But it doesn’t come close to the meaning of his relationships that he’s built around the league and what he’s meant to so many of us.

“So, he’s one of the most influential people ever in my life and I owe him so much. He’s a Hall of Famer and I’m thrilled for him. It’s a no-brainer. He was a Hall of Famer a long time ago.”

Additionally, Gregg Popovich was Team USA’s head coach in 2020, leading the United States to a Gold Medal. Despite his age, Popovich hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. On July 8, 2023, Popovich signed a five-year contract extension, keeping him with the Spurs through the 2027–28 season.