“We don’t hear a lot from Pop, but let’s say they keep us informed as much as we’re allowed to know,” said Victor Wembanyama back in November 2024, while providing an update after the NBA community was shaken by a sudden health update. It’s been almost 3 months now since Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke that has rendered him absent till this point. As interim head coach Mitch Johnson has continued stepping in, doubts have emerged about whether the long-serving Spurs official has a future with the franchise. After all, he is the oldest active coach in the NBA. As it turned out, the Spurs have clarified that they have doubts about Coach Pop too.

ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported that Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season. On top of that, his future with the franchise and the NBA league has been declared “uncertain.” If this turns out to be a long-term absence, eventually culminating in an official retirement, then it will mark the end of an era for Spurs fans. A long era since Popovich has coached the San Antonio Spurs for 22 seasons now. With over 1,390 regular-season victories and another 170 in the postseason with five championships, Coach Pop is nothing short of a legend. Unfortunately, even legends can only go so far.

The news would have been upsetting given any particular day of the week. However, its timing has made the pain in the hearts and minds of Spurs fans even worse now. After all, the update about Gregg Popovich comes after the news that the Spurs have decided to sideline Victor Wembanyama for the rest of the ongoing NBA season! Upon his return from the All-Star game, the French star was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis, aka a form of blood clot, in his right shoulder.

The ailment is treatable, as reports reveal it is usually taken care of with a blood-thinning medication. As highlighted by Forbes, the Spurs “promptly” started an anticoagulant (clot-preventing) medication for the player and put him on the disabled list. Unfortunately, the medication precludes a player from participating in a contact sport such as basketball. Therefore, while his unavailability for the ongoing season is certain, his future is now in doubt.

All the Wemby updates would have already taken a toll on the NBA community. Therefore, it didn’t take long for people to start reacting in the comments section after the news about Coach Pop.

How did fans react to the recent update about Gregg Popovich?

One social media user wrote, “Rest up king.” If there is anyone who deserves to rest after a life of longevity, then it is Gregg Popovich. Before he even joined the San Antonio Spurs back in 1988, he had spent 15 more years establishing a name as a prominent college basketball coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Air Force Falcons from 1973 to 1979, the head coach for Pomona-Pitzer from 1979 to 1986, and the assistant coach for Kansas from 1986 to 1987, before eventually returning to Pomona-Pitzer for one year. Before his stroke, he was going strong even at the age of 76.

One individual wrote, “I strongly believe he wants to coach till the day he passes. He lost his wife back in 2018, you know he doesn’t wanna stay home alone thinking about her. Coaching is all he has left! Prayers up for you Coach! One of the best coaches of all time!”

Erin Popovich had passed away at the age of 67, after a long battle with an illness. The Spurs head coach remembered her during his 2023 Hall of Fame speech. Choking back tears, Coach Pop paid tribute by stating, “My wife Erin of 42 years was our center of gravity. She was our rock and made everything worthwhile and meaningful.” Despite the personal heartache, Popovich kept going.

Another social media user paid tribute by stating, “No matter his next move, Popovich already won the game of basketball.” After all, when you have won 5 NBA championships, 3 Coach of the Year titles, and 2 Olympic medals (including 1 gold), what more do you need to do to prove your worth?

One individual highlighted his sadness by writing, “NOOOO. First Wemby, now Pop. Spurs in shambles rn (crying emojis)”.

The San Antonio Spurs are currently on a 24-30 win record. In Coach Pop’s absence, interim head coach Mitch Johnson has only been able to go 22-27. Now, without the star coach and the star player, it is difficult to presume whether the Spurs will ever see a good run in the foreseeable future. According to Shams Charania, Wembanyama and Popovich have been in active communication since the recent diagnosis. Popovich himself has been very hands-on with Wembanyama after the player’s condition deteriorated. The duo are still looking out for each other.

Another social media user paid tribute by writing, “He should be done. His imprint on basketball is solidified. Hall of famer and the best coach of all time. Enjoy retirement Pop!” Well, until Coach Pop declares it officially, we don’t know whether he will choose to retire early. However, given his current condition, one could presume that the announcement won’t be that far behind.

Honestly, most of the reactions to Popovich’s news have been really positive. We’ll have to wait and see how other players and coaches in the league react, though.