SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Basketball Hall of Fame Gregg Popovich is recovering from what the San Antonio Spurs described as a mild stroke, although there is no timetable for when the NBA’s longest-tenured coach will return to the bench.

Popovich suffered a stroke Nov. 2 in the arena where the Spurs play, the team announced Wednesday, and has already begun a rehabilitation program with confidence he will make a full recovery. The team has not released any other details, including what after-effects of the stroke – if any – he is facing.

“It’s a tough time for everyone,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said. “Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for three decades. We have all met or know people who simply have a different aura, a different presence within them. Obviously, he is one of those people. When we walk into the building every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence and so without it, there is clearly a void. And we miss him.

Popovich, 75, is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. He has led the Spurs to five championships and guided USA Basketball to a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He is in his 29th season as Spurs coach. .

“He’s fine. He’s fine. … He’s tough, he’s a fighter and he’s going to work,” Wright said. “We’re all here for him, but he’s fine.”

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson served as interim head coach in Popovich’s absence. THE Spurs beat Washington 139-130 Wednesday night, the seventh straight game in which Johnson replaced Popovich.

“Mitch has been great,” Spurs rookie Stephon Castle said Wednesday, before the team announced details on Popovich’s health. “Even when Pop was there, he always had a voice in our groups and in our locker room. Our philosophies have not changed.

Victor Wembanyama, who scored a career-high 50 points during the win over the Wizards, said the team learned of Popovich’s attack before the team’s announcement.

“Of course I’m a little worried about Pop,” Wembanyama said. “At the same time, I haven’t spoken to him, but I know what state of mind he is in. I know he’s working like crazy, probably to get back with us as quickly as possible. I trust him. I trust the people who are taking care of him right now. I hope he won’t be away from us for too long.

The Spurs next face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and after learning Popovich had suffered a stroke, LeBron James expressed concern about the coach’s health. He called him “my dear friend Coach Pop.”

“I wish him the best of health,” James said. “I hope I see him again soon.” You don’t even have to be apart. I hope I see him again soon.

A stroke occurs when blood flows part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This deprives the brain of oxygen, which can cause brain damage that can lead to difficulty thinking, speaking and walking, or even death. Strokes can cause speech difficulties, paralysis or loss of movement of certain muscles, memory loss, and more.

It is unclear whether Popovich is suffering from after-effects of his stroke.

The stroke was fourth leading cause of death in the United States by 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than half a million Americans suffer a stroke each year.

The Spurs were playing at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 2, and Popovich’s medical episode occurred there in the hours leading up to that game. Johnson took over for that night’s game, which the Spurs won, after the team said Popovich was not feeling well.

Johnson and Popovich spoke on November 3, and on November 4, Johnson said that Popovich was “in good spirits…everything will be fine.” He’s fine. The Spurs had not released many details since, prior to Wednesday’s announcement regarding the stroke.

Wright was pleased with how Johnson and the Spurs bonded and handled the team leader’s absence.

“That’s exactly what Coach Pop would want us to do,” Wright said. “And so, it’s up to all of us to play our part, to continue to lean on each other and support each other and be there for each other.”

Popovich is one of only three coaches to win the NBA Coach of the Year award three times, Don Nelson and Pat Riley being the others. He is one of five coaches to have won at least five NBA titles; Phil Jackson (11), Red Auerbach (9), John Kundla (5) and Riley (5) are the others.

Popovich has been with the Spurs for almost 35 years. He served as an assistant coach from 1988 to 1992, then returned to the club on May 31, 1994, as executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager. He made the decision to fire coach Bob Hill and name himself coach on December 10, 1996.

Since then, he has been the secondary boss of Spurs.

“We look forward to the day when we can welcome him back,” Wright said.

Popovich’s 29-year career with the Spurs is a nearly unparalleled period in the history of major professional sports in the United States.

Connie Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years, George Halas coached the Chicago Bears for 40 years, and John McGraw managed the New York Giants for 31 years. Those three tenures – all ended more than half a century ago – are the only ones surpassing Popovich’s with the Spurs; his 29-year tenure in San Antonio thus far matches the tenures of Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys and Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers in those jobs.

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Reynolds reported from Miami.

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