Popovich Steps Down As Spurs Coach After 29 Years

Gregg Popovich has stepped down from his position arsenic caput coach of nan San Antonio Spurs aft 29 seasons pinch nan team.

On Friday nan Spurs announced that Popovich, 76, will modulation into nan domiciled of president of hoops operations astatine nan organisation.

Over 29 seasons Popovich oversaw 1,422 regular play victories - nan astir by a caput coach successful NBA history - and led nan Spurs to 5 NBA championships, astir precocious successful 2014.

"While my emotion and passion for nan crippled remain, I've decided it's clip to measurement distant arsenic caput coach," said Popovich.

"I'm everlastingly grateful to nan awesome players, coaches, unit and fans who allowed maine to service them arsenic nan Spurs caput coach and I americium excited for nan opportunity to proceed to support nan organisation, organization and metropolis that are truthful meaningful to me."

Popovich has not been connected nan sidelines since suffering a mild stroke successful November earlier a location triumph complete nan Minnesota Timberwolves.

In his absence nan Spurs grounded to scope nan 2025 NBA play-offs - they person not played successful nan post-season since 2019 - aft finishing nan regular play pinch a 34-48 record.

Popovich arrived successful San Antonio successful 1988 arsenic an adjunct coach, and aft a two-year spell pinch nan Golden State Warriors, returned to nan Spurs arsenic caput coach successful 1996.

He was nan longest serving progressive coach successful immoderate awesome US sport.

The longest serving NBA coach is now Erik Spoelstra, 54, who has led nan Miami Heat since nan 2008-09 season.

Popovich led nan U.S. men's hoops squad to golden astatine nan 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and successful 2023 was inducted into nan Basketball Hall of Fame arsenic a coach successful 2023.