On Friday, Gregg Popovich announced that he was officially stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 years.
29 years is a very long time, and Popovich quite literally changed the game during that period.
His team’s biggest star, Victor Wembanyama, took to social media to celebrate the NBA icon.
“Coach, thank you for your wisdom, for your leadership, for the culture you created… But most importantly for being a great and inspiring person,” Wembanyama wrote on X, before adding that it was an honor to be part of his legacy.
29 years.
Coach, thank you for your wisdom, for your leadership, for the culture you created…
But most importantly for being a great and inspiring person.
It was an honor to be a part of those 29 years🙏🏽 Wishing you the best on your new chapter.
🐐
— Wemby (@wemby) May 2, 2025
Throughout his many years in the league, Popovich coached some of the best stars in NBA history, such as David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and more.
All of them will miss what Popovich brought to the league and the ways he changed them and transformed how people valued players, coaches, and teams.
Popovich was supposed to take Wembanyama to new heights, and there were hopes he’d oversee another run to the Finals with his Spurs.
But his health problems got in the way, and now Popovich is stepping away for good.
However, he will still be involved with the team and will surely be rooting for them.
That means that Wembanyama’s relationship with Popovich will continue, even if he isn’t being coached by him.
Popovich will now take on the role of President of Basketball Operations, meaning he will work closely with the team’s front office and will still dictate some front office decisions.
Even though he is no longer coaching, Popovich is not leaving the organization.
That’s a good thing because people cannot envision a Spurs team without him.
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