Gregg Popovich stepped down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in early May 2025 , transitioning to president of basketball operations after a storied 29-year tenure.

This decision followed a mild stroke in November 2024 that sidelined him for the 2024-25 season, with assistant Mitch Johnson taking over as head coach.

Timeline of Events

  • November 2, 2024 : Popovich suffers a stroke, missing the rest of the season.
  • February 27, 2025 : Announces no return to sidelines for 2024-25 but expresses hope for future coaching.
  • May 1-2, 2025 : Official retirement announcement as coach; shifts to front office full-time.
  • May 4-5, 2025 : Press conferences and tributes highlight his legacy, with Popovich introducing Johnson.

Legacy Highlights

Popovich, now 77, leaves as the NBA's winningest coach with 1,412 regular- season wins and five championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014).

His Spurs era defined sustained excellence, mentoring stars like Tim Duncan and developing a culture of discipline and teamwork.

In his statement: > "While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach."

Trending Context

As of January 2026, discussions on forums like Reddit's r/nba still buzz about Pop's impact—no full retirement from basketball, just a pivot. Fans speculate on Johnson's interim success and Pop's advisory influence amid Spurs' rebuild. Some view it as health-driven timing post-stroke recovery, others as a graceful exit after 29 seasons.

TL;DR : Retired as Spurs coach May 2025 after stroke; now team president.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.