NBA fans are often split on just about everything, but Gregg Popovich’s latest health scare brought the basketball world together this week.
The San Antonio Spurs head coach was reportedly stretchered into an ambulance on Tuesday, April 15, after suffering a health scare at a restaurant in San Antonio. The incident, first reported by TMZ, comes less than six months after Popovich suffered a “mild stroke,” per ESPN.
NBA Community Unites in Support of Gregg Popovich on Social Media
While players have come and gone, Popovich has been a constant presence for NBA fans. The 76-year-old is widely viewed as one of the greatest basketball minds the game has ever seen.
Popovich has gone on to win five championships over four decades and has been named the NBA’s Coach of the Year three times. Along the way, he has worked with and developed some of the game’s all-time greats like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili.
The recent news about Popovich’s health clearly shook the league. Last season, he was still on the sidelines arguing with refs. But this season, he’s missed most of the year. Back in February, the Spurs confirmed he would be out for the rest of the season to focus on his health.
Fans on social media shared their support for Popovich during this difficult period in his life, with a long list of messages and comments for the legendary coach.
“Hate seeing this. Praying for Coach Pop,” commented one fan who made sure to keep Popovich in his prayers.
Hate seeing this. Praying for Coach Pop 🙏🏼
— Zach “🅂🄲🄷🅄🅉” Schumaker (@_SchuZ_)
“The basketball world loves you, Pop,” wrote another fan. Others wished him a quick return, with one fan commenting, “Prayers for the fast recovery of Coach Pop!”
The latest injury scare was unsettling for many, with some accounts calling for the coach to take a break from the game. “This isn’t good. Rest legend. You’ve done enough. Stay healthy,” was the message from one fan.
“He needs to fully retire asap. Even if a stroke is ‘mild’ it is very very serious,” read another comment that received a lot of attention.
Popovich has the longest active run as a head coach in the NBA, with the Spurs’ mastermind now in his 29th season as the team’s head coach. No coach in the league’s history has more wins than Popovich (1,422).
Fans everywhere hope Popovich will be healthy and back on the Spurs’ sideline for the 2025-26 season.
