Published on November 4, 2024 at 7:46 p.m.
Victim of a health problem, the iconic <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/omer-faruk-yurtseven-made-a-double-double-in-the-nba-miami-heat-won/" title="Ömer Faruk Yurtseven made a 'double-double' in the NBA, Miami Heat won”>San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (75) must leave his place on the bench for an indefinite period to his assistant Mitch Johnson.
Little concern on the San Antonio side. Gregg Popovich, the iconic Spurs coach since 1996, suffered a health problem before the match against Minnesota on Saturday, won 113-103 by his team. A problem whose nature has not been revealed, but which forces the 75-year-old coach to step away from the bench for, at least, the next two matches. For the trip to the Clippers this Monday then to Houston on Wednesday, it is his assistant Mitch Johnson (37 years old) who will act as interim, as he did against the Wolves on Saturdayafter learning of Popovich’s withdrawal two and a half hours before the match. A priori, the state of health of the man who led the Spurs to their five NBA titles (between 1999 and 2014) does not inspire too much concern. “He’s OK, he just needs some rest,” an NBA source told San Antonio Express News. “He doesn’t feel well. This has happened in the past. I think everyone should always be ready for the next match. We’ve experienced injuries and sometimes people get sick, don’t feel well or things happen in life. He just doesn’t feel well,” Johnson told reporters Saturday.
Popovich record holder for victories on the bench
Record holder for the number of victories in the NBA as a coach (1,390 in the regular season, 170 in the play-offs), Gregg Popovich has already left his place on the bench to Johnson twice, in May 2021 when he visited at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for his legendary power forward Tim Duncan, and in March 2023 when he was ill. “Mitch certainly doesn’t have the same behavior as Pop, but it was good,” Victor Wembanyama admitted Saturday. Currently seventh in the Western Conference with a record of three wins for three losses, the Spurs will try to maintain this positive record this week, even without their historic “Pop” on the bench.
