Gregg Popovich
NBA COACHING legend Gregg Popovich has officially stepped down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after an extraordinary 29-year tenure, the team announced on Friday.
The 76-year-old will now transition into a new role as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, marking the end of one of the most successful coaching careers in NBA history. Popovich holds the record for most regular-season wins by a head coach, with 1,422 victories, and led the Spurs to five NBA championships, the last coming in 2014.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said in a statement. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them… and I’m excited to continue supporting the organisation, community, and city that mean so much to me.”
Popovich had not coached since suffering a mild stroke in November ahead of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his absence, assistant coach Mitch Johnson took over and will now assume the head coaching role permanently.
The Spurs missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, finishing the 2024–25 campaign with a 34–48 record.