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SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is out indefinitely while recovering from an illness.
San Antonio announced Popovich did not travel with the team on its current road trip at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and at Houston on Wednesday. The Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
In the interim, he will be replaced by assistant Mitch Johnson.
The team did not provide additional details as to the nature of the health issue.
Popovich reportedly suffered the problem ahead of Saturday’s 113-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed the game due to an undisclosed illness. According to Johnson, he was informed 2 1/2 hours before tip-off that Popovich would be unavailable.
“He’s not feeling well,” Johnson said after the game. “This has happened before. I think everybody’s just always got to be ready for the next man up. We’ve had it with injuries and sometimes people get sick or don’t feel well or things come up in life. He’s just not feeling well.”
It marked the third time Johnson has served as head coach in Popovich’s absence. Former assistant coaches Tim Duncan and Becky Hammon have also served as Spurs head coach because of an illness or medical procedure for Popovich in the past five seasons.
Popovich, 75, is the oldest and most tenured coach in the NBA. He is also the NBA’s career leader with 1,390 victories and another 170 post-season wins while winning five NBA titles. He is in his 29th season, all with San Antonio
San Antonio is currently 3-3 and sits seventh in the Western Conference.
— With files from the Associated Press
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