San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is resting at home after a medical incident at a local restaurant earlier this week, a person familiar with the matter said.
The 76-year-old Popovich, who missed most of this season while recovering from what the Spurs called a mild stroke, began feeling unwell at a restaurant in San Antonio on Tuesday night, the person said on condition of anonymity because neither Popovich nor the team released details.
Video that circulated showed Popovich being wheeled from the restaurant on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Officials were reportedly called after someone at the restaurant reported that a person had fainted.
Popovich suffered a stroke at the team’s arena on Nov. 2. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson took over that night and served as acting head coach for the final 77 games of the season.
Even while recovering, Popovich stayed in touch with Johnson and visited the team facility at times. Popovich, at that time, said he hopes he can “return to coaching in the future.”
The Spurs have given no timetable for his return and have not said whether he will be back by the start of next season. Popovich is under contract with the team through the 2027-28 season.
Popovich is a Basketball Hall of Famer. He has led the Spurs to five NBA titles and coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in wins and is one of three coaches to win Coach of the Year three times, along with Don Nelson and Pat Riley.
His long run with San Antonio began in 1988 as an assistant. He returned to the club on May 31, 1994, as executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager. He made himself head coach on Dec. 10, 1996, and has held that post since. For now, his health and future schedule remain matters to watch as the team prepares ahead of next season.