San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has officially announced that he will not return to the sidelines for the remainder of the season following his recovery from a mild stroke.
In a statement released by the team, Popovich, 76, praised interim head coach Mitch Johnson and the players for their resilience through a challenging season.
“I’ve decided not to return this season,” Popovich said. “Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job, and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”
Popovich suffered a stroke on November 2, just five games into the season. While reports had previously suggested he was unlikely to return this year, the legendary coach made it official after meeting with the team on Thursday.
Since taking over, Johnson has led the Spurs to a 22-30 record in Popovich’s absence. The Hall of Fame coach, who has been with San Antonio since 1996-97, boasts five NBA championships and is the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,407 career victories.
His future beyond this season remains uncertain.