Spurs Icon Popovich Retires After Stroke, Hands Reins to Successor

On October 7th, 2025, the San Antonio Spurs announced the retirement of legendary head coach Gregg Popovich. Popovich had been the steady hand guiding the Spurs for the past 29 years, but his tenure came to an end last November when he suffered a stroke and did not return to the sidelines.

Despite his retirement, Popovich still holds the title of president of basketball operations, a role he refers to as "El Jefe." However, he seems comfortable taking a back seat and passing the torch to Mitch Johnson, who stepped up as the acting head coach in Popovich's absence last season.

The transition to a new coach marks a significant shift for the Spurs, as no current NBA player has ever suited up without Popovich pacing the sidelines. Keldon Johnson, the team's longest-tenured player, has expressed a mix of emotions, noting that this is his first year without Popovich and that he's been "nervous" and "really nervous" about the changes.

Popovich's influence, however, is still apparent. He was recently spotted at practice, offering advice to the team's young players, including top draft pick Victor Wembanyama, who has long idolized the legendary coach. Mitch Johnson, Popovich's hand-picked successor, is putting his own stamp on the team, but the players have bought into his system and trust his leadership.