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On Monday morning, Gregg Popovich said goodbye to his title of head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and introduced the public to ‘El Jefe’.
“I’m no longer coach,” Popovich said. “I’m ‘El Jefe.'”
Speaking publicly for the first time since suffering a stroke six months ago, the iconic coach passed the torch to Mitch Johnson. Now 76 years old, Popovich spoke with a hushed tone but revealed that he is continuing to improve — however, his health is not at a point that would allow for a return to the sidelines.
“Things are getting better by the day, but it’s not good enough for what we plan ahead,” Popovich said. “So, it’s time to make this change.”
With franchise icons Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili by his side, Popovich confirmed he will remain with the Spurs as team president. A winner of five NBA Championships since 1999, Popovich stated that the team’s operation will remain intact (CEO R.C. Buford and GM Brian Wright) and that Johnson has his full support.
“That’s the goal, to make sure we keep it going,” Popovich said.
Taking over for the NBA’s all-time wins leader is not an easy position to be in, but Johnson is ready for the challenge. After playing collegiately at Stanford, Johnson enjoyed a brief career as a professional before joining the franchise as a coach in 2015. Johnson was an assistant on Popovich’s staff since 2019 before becoming the interim coach following Popovich’s stroke.
“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’. 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.”
Popovich’s legendary career with the Spurs began in 1988 when he was an assistant for four years. After a brief stint as an assistant with Golden State, Popovich returned to San Antonio in 1996. Overall, Popovich led the Spurs to five titles and compiled a 1,422-869 record. Between 1997-2017, Popovich led the Spurs to 50 wins in all but one season — in 1998-99, San Antonio went 37-13 and won the NBA Title.
“I can never express the gratitude that I have for so many people caring about the organization and sending me thoughts and prayers, that sort of thing, since I had this stroke,” Popovich said. “Things are getting better by the day, but it’s not good enough for what we plan ahead, so it’s time to make this change.”
“Timmy and Manu have been here for all of my workouts here at the Rock (the team’s training facility),” 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.”
As Popovich expressed his gratitude for everyone involved with the organization including everyone from custodians to in-game performers to fans, Johnson doubled down on San Antonio’s ethos and the plan moving forward.
“The theme of the book isn’t changing,” Johnson said.
