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Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich out indefinitely after weekend health issue

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will lead the Spurs in Popovich's absence

liz roscher
Staff writer
·3 min read

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will reportedly be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a health issue over the weekend, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Assistant Mitch Johnson will serve as the interim head coach while Popovich is out.

The health issue, which has not been disclosed, popped up before the Spurs took on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The team announced Popovich, 75, would not be able to coach the game and Johnson would handle head coaching duties.

Johnson, who was notified two-and-a-half hours before game time that he'd be acting as head coach, told the media that Popovich was "just not feeling well." The Spurs beat the Wolves, 113-103, and Johnson's performance on the sideline earned a rave review from veteran Chris Paul.

"Mitch did a great job, man," Paul said after Saturday's win. "I think our whole coaching staff [did]. Things happen within this league all the time and just like with the players, it's next man. So, shout out to Mitch, he did a great job tonight."

Johnson led the Spurs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers in Southern California, too, and addressed Popovich's absence before the game.

"I just want to start off by saying that Pop's impact on our organization from the players that he's coached and the staff that's worked with him in the community of San Antonio," Johnson said, via ESPN. "It's hard to articulate or put into words, and if I tried it would not do it justice. He's been tremendous for me personally, and right now his health is the No. 1 priority. We support him in that 100% and I talked to him last night. He's in good spirits. He's OK, and we can't wait to have him back."

Popovich is in his 29th season with the Spurs, the longest-tenured head coach in the league. He leads the NBA in wins with 1,391 career victories and another 170 postseason wins. He has also coached five teams to NBA titles.

The Spurs will take on the Houston Rockets next on Wednesday night before returning to San Antonio for a five-game homestand. Though it's going to feel like anything but from the outside, Johnson insists that it's "regularly scheduled programming" for the team.

"Just stay consistent with the messaging that we have had," he said, via ESPN. "He does so much empowerment and delegation when he is here. In a weird way it doesn't feel like I have to do something super outlandish. We have [assistants] Brett Brown, Matt Nielsen, who have been on the bench with me. We have a great staff and people that all have voices that Pop empowers to coach hard and to lead. So, I think it's just kind of continuing to do what we do. Obviously, these are big shoes to fill and we're going to do it as a group. The guys have been great, and the players have stepped up as well in that regard."