THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Legendary NBA Coach Gregg Popovich Recovering From Stroke

The longtime Spurs head coach is expected to make a full recovery.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is recovering from a “mild stroke” that occurred Nov. 2 at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, the team said in a news release Wednesday. “Popovich, who has already started a rehabilitation program, is expected to make a full recovery,” their statement read. “At this point, a timeline for his return to the sidelines has not been determined. During this time, the organization is grateful to the extended community for providing privacy and space to the Popovich family.” This season is Popovich‘s 29th as San Antonio’s head coach. The 75-year-old is the NBA’s winningest coach, as well as its oldest. His coaching career began in 1973 as assistant coach at Air Force Academy. He has since won five NBA titles as head coach, and was three times named the league’s coach of the year, most recently in 2014. Spurs general manager Brian Wright said Popovich’s health scare had resulted in a “difficult time for everyone,” adding: “Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for the last three decades. We all have come across or know people that just have a different aura, a difference presence about them. Clearly, he’s one of those people. When we walk into the building each and every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence and so not having him there’s clearly a void. And we miss him.”

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