San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, the NBA’s longest-tenured coach, suffered a mild stroke Nov. 2 and is recovering, although there is no timetable for his return. The Spurs announced the diagnosis on Wednesday.

The Spurs organization had closed ranks around Popovich since he left Nov. 2 with what the team called at the time a “health issue,” although the way they reacted suggested he wasn’t It wasn’t just a cold or flu that could cost him a handful of dollars. games.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked and interrupted (or, more rarely, a blood vessel inside the brain bursts), and there are very high levels of severity and long-term impact. varied depending on where the clot forms and how it forms. the patient receives treatment quickly. The Spurs called it a “mild” stroke, which is the true medical classification of a stroke level, which has symptoms many people associate with the condition: weakness and numbness of the one side of the face (or body, such as the arm). , which causes a sinking effect, it is accompanied by difficulty in speaking or understanding what is communicated to them. However, as the term “mild” suggests, the impacts are not as severe as they could be.

If, as appears to be the case in this case, Popovich received prompt medical treatment — the stroke occurred while he was at the arena, according to the Spurs — and was treated with an “activator” drug tissue plasminogen (tPA)”, this would help limit the long-term impacts of stroke by breaking up blood clots (this is why immediate treatment is essential in cases of stroke, there is a time limit before these medications are no longer effective).

The Spurs are still leaving open a return for Popovich this season, although it’s up to him whether he wants to return to coaching long-term or decides to opt out. San Antonio management has long said Popovich will decide when he wants to step down; this health crisis will lead Pop to reflect on this same question.

Popovich is an NBA coaching legend: a five-time NBA champion, he coached Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and won more regular season games than any coach in NBA history. Its coaching tree – Mike Budenholzer, Ime Idoka, Steve Kerr, Mike Brown and many others – forms the foundation of the league’s franchises.