One of the best head coaches in NBA history will no longer be patrolling the sidelines. The San Antonio Spurs announced on Friday that Head Coach Gregg Popovich will be transitioning full-time to team president. The Hall of Fame coach suffered a stroke in November that did not allow him to return during the regular season. The Spurs promoted Interim Head Coach Mitch Johnson to head coach. He was 31-45 as the interim head coach.
Popovich was reportedly making good progress, but had a medical emergency at a San Antonio-area restaurant in April. He reportedly intended to return to the sideline, but came to the conclusion he was not up to the day-to-day grind of being a head coach in the NBA. Popovich is arguably the best coach in NBA history. He will attack his new role with the fervor his career has been known for. How will he fare in his new role?
Gregg Popovich Career Overview
Already a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Popovich’s resume speaks for itself. He is the winningest coach in NBA history and has the third-most wins in postseason history. He also led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA titles. The trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, and Tony Parker made “Pop” an all-time legend. Later in his tenure, Kawhi Leonard helped the team to back-to-back finals appearances.
Final Thoughts
While it is disappointing that Popovich will not coach another NBA game, it is more important that he is healthy enough to return to the organization. The Spurs have a great core which would have been a pleasure to see molded by the Hall of Fame Coach. “Pop” will look to surround Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox with solid pieces.
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