Spurs' Gregg Popovich won't coach again this season

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Popovich met with the team on Wednesday for the first since the stroke to provide an update on his recovery and to inform it that he would not coach again in 2024-25.

Charania describes the in-person meeting as "emotional," adding that Popovich’s long-term future is uncertain as he continues to recover.

Popovich confirmed he won’t return as head coach this season in a press release. Notably, he did say he hopes to resume coaching down the line.

"I’ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season," Popovich said. "(Acting head coach) Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."

As Popovich mentioned, it has been a difficult season in San Antonio. In addition to being without the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, the Spurs had an "emotionally taxing" trip to France for a pair of games against Indiana, completed a major in-season trade — a rarity for the Spurs — for De’Aaron Fox and recently learned that franchise player Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of 2024-25 after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder.

The Spurs have been struggling lately, dropping their last four games. They’re currently 24-33, five-and-a-half games behind Sacramento for the final play-in spot in the West. On the other hand, the team’s lottery odds have improved — San Antonio now has a 4.5 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft lottery, per Tankathon.

Popovich, 76, is the NBA’s all-time leader in head-coaching wins, with a 1,391-824 regular-season record (.628). He ranks third in playoff wins at 170, behind Phil Jackson (229) and Pat Riley (171). Popovich has won five championships while guiding the club since 1996-97 and has been with the organization since 1988.