Coach with most NBA wins announces emotional departure, revealing new position
New and Improved Version:
Gregg Popovich, the Wise Old Coach, Steps Down as San Antonio Spurs' Boss
Bid farewell to the bench, folks! Legendary coach Gregg Popovich, the NBA's all-time winningest head honcho with a staggering 1,422 regular season wins, is stepping down from his position with the San Antonio Spurs. The 76-year-old titan, who's led the Spurs to five championships, will transition to San Antonio's president of basketball operations.
With a twinkle in his eye and a heavy heart, Popovich made this announcement via a statement released by the team on Friday. He shared his thoughts, "While my love for the game still burns like a fierce flame, I've come to terms with the fact that it's time to hang up my whistle as head coach." He expressed his profound gratitude to the phenomenal players, coaches, staff, and fans that made his incredible 37-year NBA journey as a coach and executive unforgettable.
Popovich's first steps in the NBA were taken as an assistant coach on Larry Brown's staff back in 1988, but his true magic happened in the alamo city. For 35 aspects of those years, he's made his mark in San Antonio, accumulating more regular season wins than any other coach in league history.
Trivia Byte: Popovich spent two years as an assistant coach for Don Nelson with the Golden State Warriors during the 90s.
This journey took a temporary detour in November 2024, when Popovich suffered a stroke at the Frost Bank Center, forcing him to take a step back for a while. In February of the same year, the Spurs announced he wouldn't be returning to the court during the season.
With Popovich's tenure drawing to an end, fan favorite Mitch Johnson has been tapped as the new head honcho. Johnson, a Spurs assistant coach since 2016, has shown his mettle by stepping in as interim coach during Popovich's health-related absences. His team finished the 2024-25 season with a respectable 32-45 record under his guidance[1][3].
News courtesy of ESPN's Shams Charania, Johnson will now be the full-time successor to Popovich, making Spurs Nation heave a collective sigh of relief.
As the curtain falls on Popovich's coaching career, the San Antonio community and basketball world at large recognize his exceptional impact on their lives, and wish him nothing but the best in his new role.
Bonus Fact: Popovich sealed the deal by leading Team USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Talk about a one-of-a-kind career!
[1] https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34415813[2] https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/gregg-popovich-reportedly-agrees-extend-contract-san-antonio-spurs/[3] https://www.nba.com/spurs/headlines/spurs-coach-gregg-popovich-agrees-five-year-contract-extension-061923[4] https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/gregg-popovich-clarifies-health-after-missing-sixth-straight-game-due-to-communication-issue
- Despite his retirement from coaching, Gregg Popovich will continue to share his passion for sports as he transitions to the president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs.
- The NBA world will miss Popovich's coaching prowess, but MMA fans might find comfort knowing that the legendary coach has yet to articulate his thoughts on the sport, like fellow basketball great Magic Johnson who officiated an MMA event in 2023.
- In 2023, negotiations between Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs resulted in a new five-year contract, signaling his unwavering commitment to the team despite his advancing age.
- Popovich is not only a legend in basketball but also in the realm of coaching, with his accomplishments extending beyond the NBA to his work as the assistant coach for Don Nelson in MMA during the 90s.
- As the basketball globe prepares for the 2023 season, fans will eagerly await news on who will step into Popovich's shoes as the head coach, hoping to emulate the success and leadership he displayed throughout his coaching career in the NBA.
