Inside Gregg Popovich's fight to return to the sideline
Before stepping down, the legendary coach battled to return to where he once was. This is the story of his season and how the franchise handled his absence.
www.espn.co.ukHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting up to 2025–2026.
- Gregg Popovich stopped coaching due to health reasons in 2024 after a mild stroke and did not return to the sideline that season; he remained with the Spurs in a leadership/front-office capacity and has been focused on his health with future coaching prospects left open. This was publicly announced by the Spurs and covered by outlets including ESPN and the NBA itself.[2][4]
- In 2025, reporting indicated Popovich’s recovery progressed, but there was ongoing uncertainty about a potential on-court return the following season, with the franchise emphasizing clarity before making decisions.[1][2]
- By mid-2025, Popovich had stepped away from active coaching duties, and the Spurs were led by interim/assistants as they navigated the transition, with Popovich publicly expressing hope of returning to coaching someday.[4]
If you’d like, I can pull the very latest updates from current outlets and summarize any new statements or developments, or pull direct quotes and dates for precise accuracy.