As the San Antonio Spurs prepare for their playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, one of the most important voices in franchise history made a timely return, Gregg Popovich.
The Hall of Fame coach, who continues to recover after suffering a stroke in November 2024, addressed the team earlier this week, offering a message rooted in simplicity and belief.
“[Popovich said] just to be us, not to really do anything different from what we’ve been doing all season,” guard Stephon Castle said. “He gave us another perspective on how well we’ve been playing and the position we’ve put ourselves in. So just keep doing what we’ve been doing to get in those spots.”
For a young Spurs roster entering the postseason, that guidance carries weight, especially coming from one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history.
“He’s one of the winningest coaches ever, one of the coaches with the most rings ever,” De’Aaron Fox told reporters. “So it’s only right that he felt like he needed to come in and preach to the choir.”
Popovich’s presence has remained constant behind the scenes, frequently visiting the team’s facility and maintaining close relationships with players throughout his recovery. Veteran Keldon Johnson spoke about the impact of seeing his longtime coach again.
“He looks amazing. He’s doing great. It’s always good to see him,” Johnson said to The Athletic. “He stays in touch. He texts me or calls me from time to time, probably every other day. … Just seeing how he’s progressing, seeing how well he’s doing, it’s just the ultimate satisfaction, honestly.”
Beyond motivation, Popovich continues to serve as a mentor, particularly for younger players experiencing the playoffs for the first time.
“He’s helped me and a lot of the other guys on the team, just having somebody to talk to,” Castle said. “Whether games are going good, games are going bad, just knowing Pop, he’ll always tell you the real.”
Johnson echoed that sentiment.
“He’s very encouraging. … I mean, he’s definitely still himself. He’s still sharp. He’s still very much Pop. He has not skipped a beat at all.”
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