Gregg Popovich Retires After 29 Years as Spurs Head Coach

Post by: Layla Badr

Photo: AP

Gregg Popovich, one of the most respected coaches in basketball history, is stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons. The team made the announcement on Friday. This marks the end of an amazing coaching career that includes five NBA championships and a record 1,422 wins — the most by any coach in NBA history.

Popovich is 76 years old and has been dealing with health issues. He missed most of this past season after having a mild stroke in November. However, he’s not leaving the Spurs completely. The team said he will now take on a new job as the President of Basketball Operations, where he will still help guide the team, just not from the bench.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

In a statement, Popovich said,“I still love the game, but I feel it’s time to step away from coaching. I’m very thankful to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans who gave me the chance to lead the Spurs. I’m excited to keep supporting the team, the city, and the community in a new way.”

Popovich started his journey with the Spurs back in 1988 as an assistant coach. Except for two years with the Golden State Warriors, he spent his entire 37-year NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. He became the head coach in 1996 and stayed in that role for 29 years — longer than any coach in all major American sports leagues.

Popovich wasn’t just great in the NBA. He also coached the United States Men’s Basketball Team and led them to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Spurs Managing Partner Peter J. Holt praised Popovich in a statement, saying,“Coach Pop has had a huge impact on our team, our city, and the entire sport of basketball. Awards and trophies can’t fully show how many lives he has touched. He is truly one-of-a-kind.”

Many people had been wondering about Popovich’s future since his stroke in November. Last month, he was reportedly taken to the hospital again after a health scare at a restaurant. It wasn’t serious, but it added to the concern.

Back in February, Popovich had already shared that he wouldn’t return for the rest of the season, saying he wanted to focus on getting better. He still hoped he might return to coaching, but now it's official that he won’t.

Throughout his long career, Popovich became known not just for being smart about basketball, but for truly caring about his players as people. Former Spurs player Terry Porter once said,“Pop always cared about us as people first — our families, our lives — and that helped build trust.”

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who worked with Popovich during the Olympics, called him a "generational leader" — someone who inspires not just players, but other coaches as well.

After nearly three decades leading the Spurs, Popovich’s coaching time may be over, but his influence on basketball will last forever.

#trending #latest #GreggPopovich #SpursLegend #NBAHistory #BasketballCoach #SpursFamily #PopovichRetires #NBAHallOfFame #ThankYouPop #BasketballLegend #EndOfAnEra #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai