NBA's greatest coach Popovich steps down at the Spurs

Gregg Popovich has stepped down as coach of the San Antonio Spurs after one of the NBA's most garlanded careers and will become the club's president of basketball operations.

The 76-year-old, who has the most wins by any coach in NBA history, suffered a mild stroke last November and did not return during the remainder of the season.

"While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," said Popovich, who led the Spurs to five championships over 29 years and guided the US men's team to gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. .

"I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organisation, community and city that are so meaningful to me."

The Spurs said Mitch Johnson, who served as acting head coach after Popovich took a leave of absence following his stroke, would take over as head coach.

Popovich is a three-time NBA coach of the year who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2023.

Popovich first joined the Spurs in 1988 as an assistant, a role he held for four seasons, before taking a job as an assistant with Golden State for two seasons.

In 1994, Popovich returned to the Spurs as the team's general manager and vice president of basketball operations.

After a 3-15 start to the 1996-97 season, Popovich took over the head coaching role after firing Bob Hill and went on to turn the Spurs into one of the NBA's most successful franchises.

"Coach Pop's extraordinary impact on our family, San Antonio, the Spurs and the game of basketball is profound," said Spurs Managing Partner Peter J. Holt.

"His accolades and awards don't do justice to the impact he has had on so many people. He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader and coach."

Popovich's career ends with a record of 1422-869, which does include the 77 games — 32 wins and 45 losses — that were coached by Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson this season.

He also won 170 play-off games with the Spurs, the most by any coach with any one team and the third-most overall behind only Phil Jackson's 229 and Pat Riley's 171.

As Spurs great Manu Ginobili said last year of Popovich: "The best there ever was."