By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay
Gregg Popovich is stepping down as the San Antonio Spurs head coach after 29 seasons.
Popovich, 76, suffered a mild stroke last season. Although he won’t be coaching anymore, his job is far from over. He will remain as the team president. Mitch Johnson, who served as the acting head coach, will be the Spurs’ permanent coach.
Popovich established himself as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. He was known for treating all of his players equally and didn’t give a pass or special treatment to anyone, whether it was David Robinson, Tim Duncan, or Kawhi Leonard. Popovich was a no-sense coach.
There’s a reason he was so successful and why he made it possible for anyone to come to a classy organization like the Spurs. Popovich finished his coaching career with 1,422 regular-season victories, five championships, and three Coach of the Year awards.
When the Spurs drafted Duncan in 1997, it was the beginning of something special in San Antonio. The Duncan and Popovich duo lasted for 20 years and together brought many great memories to the organization. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and many others played a huge part in the organization’s success, and Popovich was highly respected.
Many people who worked or played for the Spurs organization under Popovich went on to have impressive careers, especially from a coaching standpoint—for example, former basketball player Avery Johnson.
Johnson played for the Spurs organization for years throughout the 1990s. He wasn’t a star, but as a role player, his strong voice in the locker room was a key factor in why the Spurs are the way they are together. Johnson coached the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006, and he had to go through Popovich and the Spurs in the semifinals to get there. It was an awkward situation, but the Mavs beat the Spurs in Game 7 that year.
The Spurs’ future is in good hands. Coach Johnson played basketball in high school and college and was a standout in high school. Johnson has been highlighted as a person with a high basketball IQ. If you’re a Spurs fan, you would want to hear that.
We are seeing a Big Three in Victor Wenbanyama, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox. Hopefully, if everyone stays healthy, including Popovich, future championships could come back to San Antonio. The Spurs have been seeking their first title since 2014.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
X: @mmm_sportnfilms, Instagram: @miguel_passionforsports and @themmmjournal, LinkedIn: The MMM Journal, TikTok: @miguelmikemedina
