San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is recovering at home after seeking medical attention earlier this week following an incident at a restaurant, according to a source familiar with the situation. Popovich, 76, had previously taken a leave of absence this season to recover from what the Spurs described as a mild stroke.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Popovich started feeling unwell at a restaurant in San Antonio. The source, who requested anonymity as neither Popovich nor the team provided details publicly, confirmed the situation. TMZ Sports first reported the story, including video footage that showed Popovich being taken away from the restaurant on a stretcher and placed into an ambulance. Rescue officials had responded to a call about someone fainting at the scene.
Earlier this season, Popovich suffered a stroke at the Spurs’ home arena on November 2. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepped in as acting head coach and led the team for the rest of the season. Despite stepping down, Popovich remained in frequent contact with Johnson and was seen at the facility, even addressing the team in February. At that time, Popovich expressed hope for a potential return to coaching in the future.
The Spurs have not indicated whether Popovich will be ready to return by the start of next season. He is under contract with the team through the 2027-28 season.
Popovich, a Basketball Hall of Fame member, has led the Spurs to five NBA championships and coached Team USA to an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. He is the all-time winningest coach in NBA history and one of only three coaches to win the NBA Coach of the Year award three times, alongside Don Nelson and Pat Riley.
Popovich’s association with the Spurs dates back to 1988 when he first joined as an assistant coach. After a brief departure in 1992, he returned in 1994 as the executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager. He then made the decision to fire head coach Bob Hill in December 1996 and appointed himself as the team’s head coach, a role he has held ever since.