San Antonio Spurs future Hall of Fame head coach Greg Popovich suffered a mild stroke back in November, which has caused him to be away from the team this season.
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That is, on Thursday Popovich addressed his team in an emotional meeting (per ESPN), where he said he hopes to return to coaching after this season.
A released statement from the 5x NBA champion reads:
"I've decided not to return to the sidelines this season. Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."
To note, the Spurs will also be missing their generational superstar Victor Wembanyama for the rest of the season, after he suffered a blood clot in his shoulder.
San Antonio currently has a 24-33 record, which sits them 5.5 games back from the play-in tournament No. 10 seed.
Notably, Popovich is a 5x NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), and has been accredited with helping lead the franchise to its dynasty-type run with players such as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli.
The hope is that the 76-year-old legendary coach can coach once again in the future, but even if he retires, coach Pop will be considered one of the all-time greatest NBA coaches ever.
Related: Victor Wembanyama Out For Season Due To Blood Clot Scare
