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[Saba Sports News] San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is stepping away from the team indefinitely due to a health issue.
Popovich was absent from Saturday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the team citing that the 75-year-old was feeling unwell. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson filled in for him.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, this health issue will keep Popovich away from the team for an unspecified period, with Johnson taking over as interim head coach. Popovich, who has led the Spurs since 1996, holds the distinction of being the oldest coach in NBA history, a title he earned at nearly 72 years old during the 2020-21 season.
With five championships and 1,390 wins under his belt, Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA history. Retirement rumors have swirled around him for years, with potential successors frequently mentioned.
It’s unclear how long Popovich will be sidelined, but the Spurs have confirmed he won’t be traveling for Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers or Wednesday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets.