Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“Few as Beloved as Coach Pop” – NBA Commissioner Honors Gregg Popovich’s Historic Coaching Run

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is the latest to react to the news of Gregg Popovich stepping down from his role as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. The All-Time Wins leader recently announced that he would step aside from the coaching job and move into operations full-time.

Gregg Popovich, who has had a lasting impact at the San Antonio Spurs for almost three decades, did not step down by choice. In November 2024, the 76-year-old suffered a mild stroke that not only shocked his family but also the NBA stakeholders.

Popovich has since been sidelined and didn’t take over his head coaching duties for the rest of the season. The stress that comes with a high profile coaching job took over Gregg’s health. His body no longer carries the resilience it did in the 90s when the head coach was at his pinnacle.

Gregg Popovich's coaching legacy is LEGENDARY 👏 pic.twitter.com/wmVXv2DVNi
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 2, 2025

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As a result of that, Gregg Popovich decided to hang his boots, marking an end to an illustrious coaching career. He took the San Antonio Spurs to a record 22 Consecutive Playoffs, while also winning 5 NBA Championships with them. Gregg Popovich also won three Coach of the Year awards in his 29 seasons in the league.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, reacting to the development in a statement, said, “Gregg Popovich’s sustained success as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs is incomparable. In addition to his many accolades, including five NBA championships, the most wins in league history, and an Olympic gold medal, Coach Pop has developed generations of players and coaches and has been a driving force behind the growth of basketball.”

He added, “There are few people in the basketball community as beloved and revered as Coach Pop. We thank him for his extraordinary leadership and commitment to our sport and wish him well as he embarks on his new role with the Spurs organization.”

New Coach, Young Stars, Fresh Start

The interim coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Mitch Johnson, has been hired as the head coach of the NBA side. The 38-year-old who has served at the San Antonio Spurs for nearly a decade will lead the side to a new era. With draft capital and young players like Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs are one of the teams to look out for next season.

Due to many off-court issues, the San Antonio Spurs’ season derailed despite an average start. The side finished at the 13th position in the Western Conference this season and is eligible for the Draft lottery. If everything goes right in the off-season, the Spurs will have a highly competitive team with a young coach at the helm.