Gregg Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,422 victories along with five championships, leaving an indelible mark on San Antonio as the leader of the Spurs for nearly three decades.
Popovich’s longevity as a coach was unmatched. He spent each of his final 14 seasons in the role as the NBA’s longest-tenured coach, even winning another championship in that span.
Eventually, age catches up to everyone. Health issues forced Popovich to step down as head coach in May 2025, but he stayed with the organization as president of basketball operations.
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Here’s a look at the health issues Popovich faced toward the end of his tenure as Spurs coach.
Gregg Popovich health timeline
2022: Illness forces Popovich to miss game vs. Lakers
Popovich suddenly fell ill before a game against the Lakers in November 2022 and had to sit out. He was replaced by assistant Brett Brown.
While Popovich was able to quickly return, the Spurs never revealed what illness he was dealing with.
“When something like that happens, you’re concerned,” Brown told reporters, revealing that he found out Popovich couldn’t coach just minutes before the start of the game. “But the doctors have checked him out. I was just with him, and as we speak, he is fine.”
2023: Illness forces Popovich to miss game vs. Pacers
Popovich missed another game due to illness less than four months later, though the issue was not anything serious. Both Popovich and Brown were ruled out with what the Spurs described as a “non-COVID illness” and returned the following game.
Because Brown also missed the game, future Popovich successor Mitch Johnson served as acting head coach.
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2024: Popovich suffers stroke
Popovich took an indefinite leave of absence after suffering a stroke before a game on Nov. 2, 2024.
“Shortly after stepping away from his workout next to the team’s locker room … Popovich stopped in his tracks. Team staffers who were around while he was lifting weights knew something was off and grabbed him,” ESPN later reported about the incident.
While the issue was initially described as a “mild” stroke, it quickly became clear Popovich faced an extended recovery period that made his return to coaching uncertain. The Spurs announced in February that Popovich would not return during the season, though they said he continued to make progress in his recovery.
2025: Health scare at restaurant
With his future in coaching still undecided, Popovich fainted at a San Antonio restaurant in April and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Cameras captured video of Popovich seemingly alert while being wheeled out, and he was released from the hospital within days.
Popovich was “alert and talking” as medical personnel tended to him, TMZ reported, and he had been at the restaurant for nearly two hours before being taken to the hospital.
