Legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich left fans concerned on Monday as he made his first public appearance in six months following a stroke.
Popovich, 76, suffered the stroke before the Spurs-Timberwolves game on November 2 and was replaced by Mitch Johnson for the final 77 games of the season. He was also hospitalized last month after reportedly fainting at a restaurant.
On Monday, as Johnson was formally introduced as the team’s new head coach, Popovich – who will now be moving upstairs to the role of team president – revealed a shirt reading ‘El Jefe’ as he displayed his trademark wit.
But the NBA’s all-time wins leader still showed some signs of his health issues, as he grabbed onto his former player Manu Ginobili at one point when turning around, while another one of his ex-Spurs stars, Tim Duncan, carried a cane for him.
He also spoke far more softly than he has in the past, as he said his health was improving. He passed the torch to Johnson with a host of current and previous Spurs (including Victor Wembanyama) present.
Nonetheless, fans had some strong reactions to Popovich’s appearance at the press conference.
Gregg Popovich revealed a shirt which read ‘El Jefe’ during a press conference
The legendary coach was flanked by Spurs legends Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan
‘Damn man. He can barely walk,’ one said on X.
‘This is sad,’ another said.
‘Aww he’s so old,’ a third added.
‘Man go be a family man you got nothing left to prove you can barely move smh,’ a fourth said.
And a fifth asked, ‘Bro can’t take off his own coat?’
Popovich, with the help of Duncan and Ginobili, removed his Spurs jacket to reveal his ‘El Jefe’ shirt, which also said ‘Señor Popovich’ on the back.
‘I’m no longer coach,’ Popovich said. ‘I’m ‘El Jefe.”
The five-time NBA champion later reminded those present that Johnson, 38, was ‘going to do a great job.’
Prior to serving as the team’s interim coach, Johnson was a San Antonio assistant for five years, and was an assistant of their G League affiliate before that.
‘I am honored by this opportunity and even more humbled by the people that I’ll be able to partner with and serve,’ Johnson said.
‘I can´t be him or `El Jefe,´’ he later said when asked what he´ll take from Popovich.
‘But to be able to commit and invest in people and relationships – that can be having to yell and hold someone accountable, and that can be to put your arm around someone´s shoulder and love them – and he did it better than anybody that´s ever walked the sidelines. And I will attempt to do it my way, whatever that looks like going forward.’
Mitch Johnson, 38, was introduced as the team’s new head coach on Monday
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was in the crowd as Popovich announced his retirement from coaching
Popovich also thanked several of those involved in his rehabilitation,
‘Timmy and Manu have been here for all of my workouts here at the Rock,’ Popovich said. ‘They say it´s because they love me and they want to be there in case I fall and they want to catch me, that sort of thing. I call it payback. They give the rehab people new ideas for things to do to me. They´re not fooling anybody.’
Popovich also thanked several of those involved in his rehabilitation, some of whom were at the press conference at the team’s The Rock at La Cantera training facility.
‘Timmy and Manu have been here for all of my workouts here at the Rock,’ Popovich said.
‘They say it´s because they love me and they want to be there in case I fall and they want to catch me, that sort of thing. I call it payback. They give the rehab people new ideas for things to do to me. They´re not fooling anybody.’
