The former chief coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, will not return this season.
Popovich went to the team on Thursday for the first time since he had a blow to update the players about their recovery and inform them that he will not return this season, according to the NBA writer Chris Haynes.
Popovich, 76, had a “slight blow” in November and issued a statement about his decision not to return on Thursday.
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Chief coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs during a match against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Images)
“I have decided not to return to the margin this season. Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job, and the resolution and professionalism that the players have shown, that they join during a challenging season, has been outstanding,” said the statement.
“I will continue to focus on my health in the hope of being able to return to training in the future.”
Popovich is the oldest chief coach in the NBA history. He trained at the age of 75 before he turned 76 during his time outside the team.
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The chief coach of the San Antonio, Gregg Popovich, speaks with the media before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on April 5, 2024. (Stephen Lew/USA Today Sports)
He is five times NBA champion, the NBA race leader with 1,401 victories and 170 playoff victories of his career and was included in the Basketball Hall of Basketball Naismith Memorial in 2023.
The Spurs are 24-33 this season and are 13th at the West Conference.
Despite acquiring the star owner of’aaron Fox on the deadline for exchange, the spurs playoffs are thin in a strong western conference.
The San Antonio Spurs guard, Chris Paul, has a word with the Chief of the Spurs, Gregg Popovich, during the second half of a game against Utah jazz on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
The Spurs would have many more chances of reaching the playoffs with the Star Victor Wembanyama center, but the team recently ruled out for the rest of the season with a blood clot on the shoulder.
The next game of the Spurs is on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at 8 pm et.
