San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season following a stroke on Nov. 2, ESPN reported Saturday.
Popovich had what the team called a mild stroke just five games into the season. Interim coach Mitch Johnson has led the Spurs to a 22-27 mark (24-30 overall) in the absence of Popovich, who has coached the team since the 1996-97 season and won five NBA championships.
The winningest head coach in NBA history turned 76 on Jan. 28. According to the report, his future as Spurs coach is uncertain.
The Spurs received additional distressing news Thursday when star big man Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-high 3.8 blocked shots in 46 starts this season. He leads the Spurs with 142 made 3-pointers.
Popovich owns a career record of 1,407-843 in 2,250 games with the Spurs. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
