Popovich Makes Transition Official, Steps Aside As San Antonio Head Coach

The San Antonio Spurs person officially turned nan page. During an affectional press conference Monday, May 5, legendary caput coach Gregg Popovich passed nan baton to  Mitch Johnson arsenic his imperishable successor connected nan bench.

Why is Popovich stepping aside?

In existent “Pop” style, nan coach showed his trademark wit during nan property conference, flanked by those closest to him. The 76 twelvemonth old, who suffered a mild changeable Nov. 2, 2024, looked much frail and sounded much softspoken than usual, but made charismatic what was announced by nan squad Friday, May 2. He will modulation to nan beforehand agency arsenic caput of hoops operations.

“Things are getting amended by nan day, but it’s not bully capable for what we scheme ahead,” Popovich said. “So, it’s clip to make this change.”

Popovich gave an update connected his wellness and rehab pinch chap Hall of Famers Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan by his side.

“Timmy and Manu person been present for each of my workouts present astatine nan Rock,” Popovich said. “They opportunity it’s because they emotion maine and they want to beryllium location successful lawsuit I autumn and they want to drawback me, that benignant of thing. I telephone it payback. They springiness nan rehab group caller ideas for things to do to me. They’re not fooling anybody, particularly you Timmy.”

Is Popovich nan top coach of each time?

With Duncan, Ginobili and constituent defender Tony Parker starring nan measurement among others, nan Spurs became a dynasty. In 29 seasons pinch Popovich arsenic caput coach, they won five NBA championships. He is nan all-time leader successful regular play wins pinch 1,422. Those wins led to 22 consecutive playoff appearances and 18 consecutive 50-win seasons.

As if to make nan modulation official, pinch Ginobili and Duncan’s help, nan 3 clip NBA Coach of nan Year took disconnected his warm-up overgarment to uncover a T-shirt underneath printed pinch his caller title and nan words “El Jefe, aliases successful English, ”The Boss,” successful quotes. He said he’ll thief nan caller coaching unit arsenic overmuch arsenic he tin successful his caller role.

“I’m nary longer Coach,” Popovich said to laughter. “I’m ‘El Jefe.’”

Who is Pop’s successor connected nan Spurs bench?

His successor Mitch Johnson, spent nan past decade arsenic a Popovich assistant, and led nan Spurs to a 32-45 grounds successful his absence. He said he’ll proceed to do things nan “Spurs way.”

“We person a clasp connected nan guidance we’re heading into and we wanna build upon something,” Johnson said. “This is not a restart, this is not a reboot. It’s a caller section because it looks different, but nan taxable of nan book isn’t changing.”

The Spurs person a awesome instauration to build astir pinch all-star halfway Victor Wembanyama arsenic nan centerpiece and defender De’Aaron Fox, who was acquired successful a Feb. 5 trade.  They besides person 2 first information picks, numbers 8 and 14 successful June’s NBA draft.