Gregg Popovich's Serious Diagnosis Revealed
By Jason Hall
November 13, 2024
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reportedly suffered a mild stroke earlier this month, which led to his recent absence from the team, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday (November 13).
"San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2. He is expected to make a full recovery and a timeline for return has not been determined," Charania wrote on his X account.
Charania had previously reported that Popovich, 75, suffered an undisclosed health issue prior to being absent for the Spurs' 113-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 2. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has filled in as the interim with a 3-3 in the six games Popovich has missed.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2. He is expected to make a full recovery and a timeline for return has not been determined. pic.twitter.com/FK6VMC1B57
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 13, 2024
The Spurs confirmed that Popovich didn't travel with the team for road games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets after his sudden absence on November 2 prior to Charania's earlier report. Popovich is the NBA's all-time winningest coach with 1,390 regular-season victories and 170 postseason wins, as well as five NBA championships, all of which have come during his 29-year tenure with the Spurs.
San Antonio is currently 5-6 through its first 11 games of the 2024-25 NBA season and 12th in the Western Conference, winning two of its last three games, including a 116-96 win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday (November 11).