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New Gregg Popovich Update Before Spurs vs. Clippers

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will be away indefinitely.

Joey Linn

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches his team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches his team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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The San Antonio Spurs (3-3) are in Los Angeles on Monday night to face the LA Clippers (2-4) at Intuit Dome. Ahead of this Western Conference battle, it was announced that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will be away from the team due to a health issue he suffered prior to Saturday’s game. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will replace him.

Via Shams Charania of ESPN: “San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a health issue before Saturday’s game and assistant Mitch Johnson is expected to be the interim head coach for indefinite period, including Monday vs. Clippers and Wednesday vs. Rockets, sources tell ESPN.”

The 75-year-old Popovich is in his 29th season as head coach of the Spurs. While this report from Charania is concerning, an additional update from Tom Orsborn of San Antonio Express-News is more encouraging.

Via Orsborn: “Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will take over the Spurs' head coaching duties for an indefinite period after Gregg Popovich suffered a health issue before Saturday's game against Minnesota. A league source said Popovich, 75, is ‘OK’ but that he ‘just needs rest.’”

The entire NBA is off on Tuesday for the election, so that is an additional day of rest Popovich will have as he prepares to rejoin the team after this indefinite absence. After their game against the Clippers on Monday, the Spurs will travel to face the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday.

NBA fans have been sending their well wishes to Popovich amid this news. It fortunately sounds as if the veteran head coach is okay, but needs some time away to rest and regroup before rejoining the team.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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