San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made a public statement for the first time since suffering a stroke on November 2. Popovich has been absent from the team since the medical incident, and there is still no timetable for his return to the bench.
Here is Popovich’s statement, which was released by Spurs Monday afternoon:
“It has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and I. As we work through my recovery together, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we have received has been truly overwhelming in the best way possible. While I wish I could get back to each and every one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful to our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and our friends.
No one is more excited to see me back on the bench than the talented people who have led my rehabilitation process. They quickly understood that I am far from coachable.”
In Popovich’s absence, Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson was elevated to interim head coach. He led the Spurs to an 11-10 record during that span.
It was initially reported that Popovich would not travel with the Spurs on an upcoming road trip in early November because he was dealing with a health issue. Then, on November 13, the Spurs announced that Popovich had suffered a mild stroke at San Antonio Arena before the team’s 113–103 victory over the Timberwolves. He is expected to make a full recovery, but it is still unclear when he will return to the bench.
Popovich, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, is currently in his 29th season as head coach of the Spurs. He won five NBA championships and has a career record of 1,391-824 (.628 winning percentage) in the regular season.
