Gregg Popovich is expected to sign a new three-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, according to NBA insider LJ Ellis of SpursTalk.
Popovich’s latest contract expired after the 2023 season.
“Don’t expect an official announcement but the front office is operating as if Popovich will return to the sidelines for at least one more season,” Ellis wrote. “A couple sources I’ve discussed this with believe that the addition of Wembanyama could help convince the coaching legend to stick around for a while longer.
“Popovich’s latest contract expired after the 2023 season. According to a team source, if and when he officially decides to return, Popovich is expected to sign a three-year contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $14 million per year. The contract will also allow him to opt out after either of the first two seasons.”
The Spurs have the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and will select Victor Wembanyama. Popovich, one of the best coaches in NBA history, is obviously excited to coach the superstar.
Speaking of Wembanyama, the Spurs hope he’ll play in a few Summet League games in Las Vegas, according to league insider Marc Stein.
“The Spurs are hopeful, I’m told, that Victor Wembanyama will indeed be a participant to some degree in summer league play in Las Vegas,” Stein wrote. “Wembanyama’s French League season finally ended Thursday when the MVP and his Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 team were swept, 3-0, in the championship series by a Monaco team filled with former NBAers.
“The Spurs will draft Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick next Thursday and are scheduled to play in Sacramento’s California Classic summer league July 3-5 before proceeding to Las Vegas. Wembanyama’s precise availability for summer league play is TBD.”
Wembanyama was ecstatic after the Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery on May 16 in Chicago. The 19-year-old French prospect can’t wait to play for the Spurs, who are a popular team in France since fellow Frenchmen Boris Diaw and Tony Parker played for the franchise and won championships.
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