Melissa Rollin
FOX Sports NBA Writer
The NBA’s most incredible physical feats are often overlooked.
It’s not Stephen Curry’s ability to shoot from space. Or Kevin Durant’s ability to create his own shots. Or LeBron James is 39 years old and plays like he’s 20 years old.
Gregg Popovich is coaching the San Antonio Spurs at the age of 75. NBA This record surpasses Hubie Brown, who was 71 years old when he coached Memphis at the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
And now, four years later, he is still leading the team. It’s a feat that often goes unnoticed, but it came into focus Monday when it was reported that he would be sidelined indefinitely due to unspecified health issues.
“He’s OK,” Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson, interim head coach, said. “He will be fine, and we are eagerly waiting for him to come back.”
Johnson was tight-lipped about how long Popovich is expected to be out.
“I’m not at liberty to talk about it,” he said. “I don’t have enough information to try to come up with something like that.”
(relevant: Tottenham coach Gregg Popovich is out indefinitely due to an undisclosed illness.)
This much is certain. The rigors of the NBA season take their toll on some of the fittest people in the world. With flights landing at ungodly hours and schedules that can take the team to three cities in four nights. Even with charter flights, travel is notoriously exhausting during an 82-game season, often drawing complaints from men who still have the suffix “teenager” when they reach the end of their years.
Popovich served as the Spurs’ head coach for 29 years. Of course, LeBron James played for 22 seasons. But Popovich led the Spurs to an NBA record-tying 22 consecutive playoff appearances.
Popovich, a five-time championship coach, has hinted at retirement every time Tim Duncan takes off his uniform. Duncan said his final farewell to Spurs fans eight years ago. Popovich is still famous for making waves.
Popovich is best known as an X’s and O’s genius, which earned him induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. But he was also outspoken about social issues, racism, and politics, and willing to speak out for what he believed was right. He might alienate anyone.
Popovich’s absence was never more noticeable than on Monday, the evening before Election Day.
“He’s one of the guys we follow and we listen to,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said.
Popovich would no doubt encourage everyone to vote on Tuesday. He has recently been openly criticizing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying, “He is pathetic. He is small. He is a whiner.” Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, Popovich’s silence on such an important night is noteworthy.
While Popovich remains as fiery as ever on matters off the court, his approach on the court has clearly softened over the years. He even joked in his Hall of Fame induction speech that if he coached Tony Parker now like he did when he was 19, “I’d be in handcuffs.”
Popovich watched the Big Three of Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili sail off into the sunset. He watched Kawhi Leonard get traded to Toronto. Spurs have not been competitive for the past six years, but interestingly he enjoys developing young players and seems to find new joy in the job. Free from the pressure of winning, he became lighter and smiled faster.
When reporters asked him why he was still doing this, he told them how much he loved it. Do you get paid to coach games? In his eyes, it wasn’t a joke that he was still working despite making millions of dollars, but people were calling his gig a real job.
Of course, things have changed recently. The Spurs acquired the first overall pick in 2023, securing the rights to Victor Wembayama, the most notable player since LeBron. Shortly thereafter, Popovich agreed to a five-year contract extension worth more than $80 million, making it the largest coaching contract in the NBA.
Popovich made it clear that he is still very actively involved. His latest project? The 7-foot-3 Frenchman is widely expected to be the next face of the NBA.
If you think about it, it’s surprising. Popovich is the longest-serving coach in any major American sports league. Considering the incredible mental and physical dedication required to coach professionally, his stamina is truly legendary.
But we were reminded on Monday that this won’t last forever. Whether or not what’s bothering him is serious, whether he’s away for an extended period of time or coming back for another game, it’s a reminder that what Popovich has done and is doing is unprecedented.
And, of course, the Spurs knew he would be watching on Monday. They led 40-14 in the first quarter against the Clippers, but ultimately fell without the lead 113-104.
Before the game, Chris Paul said the players had not spoken to Popovich and wanted to give him space during this time. He pointed out that they miss him. He said the biggest thing Popovich preaches is that they are all privileged to do this work.
But despite what was going on with Popovich, Paul chuckled knowing his coach was doing what he does best, even from afar.
“He will tell us what he sees,” Paul said.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated. los angeles Times, Bay Area News Group, and saint antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @Written by: Melissa Roll.
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