Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (illness) out indefinitely

Field Level Media|published: Mon 4th November, 11:22 2024

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder

Oct 30, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches his team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history, will be sidelined indefinitely due to a health issue, ESPN reported Monday.

The team said Popovich, 75, missed the Spurs' 113-103 home victory on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to illness.

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will serve as the interim coach in Popovich's absence. The team said Popovich would not make the road trip for games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Popovich has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, leading them to five NBA championships and compiling a record of 1,390-824.

On March 11, 2022, Popovich surpassed Don Nelson for the most regular season wins by a coach with his 1,336th victory.

Popovich is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he coached the U.S. men's national team to a gold medal.

--Field Level Media