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Gregg Popovich made a rare public appearance at the Spurs’ G League game on Friday, January 23, in Austin, Texas
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The legendary basketball coach suffered a “mild stroke” in November 2024 and was hospitalized again five months later
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The San Antonio Spurs announced in May 2025 that Popovich would become the team’s president of basketball operations
Gregg Popovich made a rare public appearance at an NBA game and received a standing ovation.
The 76-year-old former San Antonio Spurs coach visited the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas, on Friday, January 23, to show his support for the Austin Spurs as they were seen taking on the Capital City Go-Go’s in a G League game in a video shared on social media.
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Fans stood up to cheer and applaud the Hall of Fame coach as he walked across the field with his cane in hand.
The rare public appearance comes nearly a year after he was hospitalized after collapsing in a restaurant.
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Gregg Popovich against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 28, 2022
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On April 15, 2025, officials received a call that someone had “passed out” during dinner, and Popovich was rushed to the hospital, TMZ Sports reported at the time. Video from that day shows the football legend being placed in the back of an ambulance outside a San Antonio steakhouse.
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The patient was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries or illness, officials told the outlet.
Just a few weeks later, the San Antonio Spurs announced on social media that the winningest coach in NBA history would transition from the bench to a new role as the team’s president of basketball operations.
“While my love and passion for the game remains, I have decided it is time to step down as head coach,” Popovich said in a May 2 statement. “I am forever grateful to the incredible players, coaches, staff and fans who have allowed me to serve them as Spurs head coach, and am delighted to have the opportunity to continue supporting an organization, community and city that means so much to me.”
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San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich speaks to the media at San Antonio Spurs media day
Popovich, who won five NBA championships with the Spurs, made his last public appearance at a press conference in May when he introduced Mitch Johnson as the team’s new head coach.
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Months before the role change, the San Antonio Spurs revealed that Popovich suffered a “mild stroke” in November 2024.
“This incident occurred on November 2nd at the Frost Bank Center,” the team wrote on social media. “Popovich has begun a rehabilitation program and is expected to make a full recovery.”
Over the next month, Popovich took some time to thank everyone for their “outpouring of support” during his recovery.
“This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for me and my family,” he wrote on X on December 16, 2024. “While I wish I could be back with each of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful. We are grateful to our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends.”
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