Gregg Popovich misses fourth straight game with undisclosed illness as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers

CNN
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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich missed his fourth straight game since suffering from an undisclosed health issue as his team posted a 118-105 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

Popovich became ill about two and a half hours before San Antonio’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. He is resting at home and will remain out indefinitely, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepped in as interim head coach for Saturday’s game and has remained in that role for the three games since. Before Thursday’s win, Johnson was asked if he could provide clarity on whether Popovich would return this season.

“I would say he’s fine,” Johnson told reporters. “We talked. I’ve had my hands full trying to stay afloat. So I haven’t discussed any details and I’m not sure about anything.”

CNN has reached out to the Spurs multiple times for comment on Popovich’s health but has not received a response.

It’s the third time Johnson has filled in for Popovich, although his two previous stints each lasted one game – once when Popovich fell ill before a game against the Indiana Pacers in March 2023, and the other time when the Hall of Fame coach Fame by Tim Duncan attended induction in 2021.

Duncan himself also represented Popovich during his time as a Spurs assistant, as did Mike Budenholzer, Becky Hammon and Brett Brown.

At 75, Popovich is the oldest head coach in NBA history. He currently has 1,390 regular season wins, an NBA record, in his 29th season – which he spent exclusively with the Spurs. He has won 170 postseason games and five NBA championships.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was optimistic about his coach’s condition. “We don’t hear much from Pop,” he told reporters after Thursday’s game. “They keep us informed as much as we are allowed to know. So I’m not worried about him. I know he will come back soon. We don’t talk to him directly that often.”

Contributions came from all sides for the Spurs on Thursday, with Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham scoring 17 points each, Zach Collins, Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie 14 each and Wembanyama 12.

Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton each scored 21 points for the Trail Blazers, with the latter also recording 10 rebounds.