NBA Coach Gregg Popovich Suffers Medical Incident, Taken Away By Ambulance

San Antonio Spurs legendary coach Gregg Popovich reportedly “fainted” while dining at a local restaurant Tuesday night.

According to TMZ Sports, Popovich left on a stretcher and was taken away in an ambulance.

Popovich missed the rest of the season after suffering a mild stroke in November.

Gregg Popovich was taken to the hospital Tuesday night after fainting at a San Antonio restaurant, per @TMZ

TMZ reports he was stretchered out and may still be feeling effects from a mild stroke suffered in November.

Prayers for Pop pic.twitter.com/dVkL6ZBdbp

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 18, 2025

Per TMZ Sports:

Our sources tell us Popovich appeared to still be dealing with the effects of the mild stroke he suffered in early November while at the establishment … and was there for close to two hours before suffering the medical emergency.

Officials say they responded to the scene after receiving a call for an elderly person who had fainted … and the patient was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injury or illness.

Another source tells us Pop was alert and talking by the time he entered the back of the vehicle … and he is now back home and doing better.

Popovich has taken a step back from the Spurs to focus on his health … with assistant Mitch Johnson serving as interim head coach in his absence.

“San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a medical incident at a restaurant on Tuesday night and he is now home, stable and doing fine. Popovich had a mild stroke in November and missed the rest of the season,” ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania said.

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a medical incident at a restaurant on Tuesday night and he is now home, stable and doing fine. Popovich had a mild stroke in November and missed the rest of the season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2025

ESPN reports:

On Nov. 2, Popovich suffered what the team called a “mild stroke” ahead of a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hall of Famer, who has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, is the NBA’s winningest coach with 1,412 regular-season victories and another 170 in the postseason to go with five championships.

He agreed to a five-year contract extension with the team in 2023.

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Assistant coach Mitch Johnson took over on an interim basis to lead San Antonio to a record of 31-45 under his watch.

Franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, in his right shoulder shortly after the NBA All-Star break and was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Newly added guard De’Aaron Fox, who joined the Spurs in February through a trade, missed the final 18 games due to a left pinkie injury that required surgery.

Before Popovich’s latest health incident, the Spurs had already faced an uncertain future as to whether the coach would return for the 2025-26 season. Johnson said the Spurs have put together an offseason plan that will be executed collectively, starting later this spring, by the staff in Popovich’s absence.