'It's Pop's decision. He's earned that': Inside Gregg Popovich's fight ...
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.com.auGregg Popovich has stepped away from coaching and is focusing on his health, with reports indicating he will not return to the Spurs this season but may consider a return in the future. His status has been widely updated through early 2025 and into 2026, with the Spurs operating under interim leadership while he recovers.[1][2][3][5]
Key points:
- He announced on Feb. 27, 2025 that he would not return to the sidelines this season due to his stroke recovery.[5]
- The team’s interim coach has led the Spurs since his absence, and Popovich has expressed hope of returning to coaching in the future.[1][5]
- In May 2025 and beyond, reports and features have continued to explore his recovery and potential return, though no definitive date has been set for a 2025–26 return.[2][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest single-source update or summarize how this situation has affected the Spurs’ coaching transition and Victor Wembanyama’s development.[5][1]