San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is reportedly dealing with a health issue and will step aside for an indefinite period of time, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
In the interim, he will be replaced by assistant Mitch Johnson.
Charania did not provide additional details as to the nature of the health issue.
Popovich reportedly suffered the problem ahead of Saturday’s 113-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed the game due to an undisclosed illness. According to Johnson, he was informed 2 1/2 hours before tip-off that Popovich would be unavailable.
“He’s not feeling well,” Johnson said after the game. “This has happened before. I think everybody’s just always got to be ready for the next man up. We’ve had it with injuries and sometimes people get sick or don’t feel well or things come up in life. He’s just not feeling well.”
Popovich, 75, is the oldest and most tenured coach in the NBA. He is also the NBA’s career leader with 1,390 victories and another 170 post-season wins while winning five NBA titles. He is in his 29th season, all with San Antonio
San Antonio is currently 3-3 and sits seventh in the Western Conference.
— With files from the Associated Press
