Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is out indefinitely due to health problems

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will be out indefinitely Saturday due to a “health issue,” ESPN and the Associated Press reported.

Assistant Mitch Johnson, who coached the team in Saturday's victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, will fill in for Popovich in the meantime.

The Spurs have not disclosed what the health issue is for Popovich. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the coach “had a health situation” before the Timberwolves game.

Johnson said after Saturday's game that Popovich “wasn't feeling well.”

“This has happened before. I think everyone just has to always be prepared for the next guy,” Johnson said. “Sometimes people get sick or don’t feel well or things happen in life. He’s just not feeling well.”

Popovich, 75, is in his 29th season as San Antonio's head coach. Popovich is the NBA's longest-serving head coach and is also the league's all-time leader in wins with 1,391. He led the Spurs to championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

Johnson, 37, has been an assistant since 2019.

“Mitch did a great job, man,” San Antonio point guard Chris Paul said Saturday. “I think our entire coaching staff did. Things are always happening in this league, and just like with players, it's the next man up that matters. So kudos to Mitch, he did a great job tonight.”