San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will be away from the team indefinitely as he recovers from an illness.
San Antonio announced that Popovich will not accompany the team on its current road trip, which includes a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and a game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The Spurs return home Thursday to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
Mitch Johnson will serve as interim coach in Popovich’s absence. Johnson was informed hours before tipoff Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves that Popovich, 75, would be unavailable due to an undisclosed illness.
“He’s not feeling well,” Johnson said. “This has happened before. I think everyone always has to be ready for the next guy. We’ve had injuries, sometimes we get sick, we don’t feel well, something happens in our lives. Sometimes it happens. He just doesn’t feel good.”
This will be Johnson’s third time as head coach in Popovich’s absence. For the past five seasons, former assistant coaches Tim Duncan and Becky Hammon have also served as the Spurs’ head coaches due to Popovich’s illness and treatment. On Saturday, San Antonio defeated Minnesota 113-103.
Popovich is the NBA’s career leader with 1,390 wins and an additional 170 wins in the postseason while winning five NBA titles. He is currently in his 29th season with San Antonio, during which the team has won five NBA titles.
