Breaking: Spurs Culture Shows Out in the Victor Wembanyama Popovich’s health Decision
Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke to reporters following Golden State’s dominant 148-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Although Spurs legend Gregg Popovich wasn’t on the sidelines for the game, Kerr, a longtime friend, took the opportunity to visit him during the team’s brief stop in San Antonio.
Popovich has been away from the team since suffering a stroke in early November. While on a six-game road trip, Kerr made it a priority to check in on his mentor and provided an emotional update on his health.
“We’ve stayed in touch,” Kerr said after the win. “I went and saw him today, and he looks great. He’s doing well. He’s one of the most important people in my life, so I’m hoping his recovery continues to progress. It was wonderful to see him.”
Popovich, the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching wins, suffered a stroke on Nov. 2 at the Spurs’ home arena. Three months later, he decided not to return for the remainder of the season. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepped in just six games into the 2024-25 season and has served as the interim head coach since.
Adding to the team’s challenges, the Spurs recently announced that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama—considered a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year—would miss the rest of the season due to deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Kerr acknowledged the adversity the Spurs have faced this season and commended their perseverance.
“Pop has been the face of the franchise for 26, 27 years, and losing him is a huge blow,” Kerr said. “Their coaching staff and Mitch have done a great job keeping the team competitive. Tonight’s game was an outlier—it doesn’t reflect how they’ve been playing. They’ve been hanging tough.
“But with Wemby’s injury and Pop’s absence, they’ve had to battle through a lot this season.”
While the future of Popovich’s coaching career remains uncertain, his legacy and impact—especially on Kerr and countless others—are undeniable.
