San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich experienced a mild stroke during a game against the Timberwolves on November 2, as confirmed by the team in a press release. He is anticipated to fully recover.
Since the incident, which was initially described as a “health scare,” Popovich has not resumed his coaching duties, and his return date remains uncertain.
At 75 years old, Popovich has been at the helm of the Spurs since 1996, leading the franchise to five NBA championships and boasting an overall coaching record of 1,390 wins to 824 losses.
In the interim, Mitch Johnson has taken over as acting head coach and has garnered commendations from point guard Chris Paul. Johnson joined the Spurs as an assistant coach in 2019.
“Mitch has been great, man,” Paul stated in an interview with The Athletic. “I’ve known Mitch even before I came here. He’s doing an amazing job, and it’s surprising that he finds himself in this position now because he has always been so communicative.”
Center Victor Wembanyama added: “We haven’t had (much) practice because of our travel schedule. But he’s doing a fantastic job.”
According to Mathey Gibson of SI.com:
“For a youthful Spurs team, Johnson’s leadership provides a familiar framework that maintains the team’s stability during Popovich’s absence.”
“While Johnson’s prospects of becoming the permanent head coach in San Antonio are not certain, his performance during this interim period has certainly bolstered his case.”
“Regardless of whether Popovich returns or not, Johnson’s stint as acting head coach presents him a significant opportunity to showcase his leadership abilities.”
