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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gave an emotional statement in response to reports that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich suffered a "mild stroke" earlier this month.
James, who recorded his third consecutive triple-double during a 128-123 win against the Memphis Grizzlies, said he only wanted to talk about "my dear friend Coach Pop" while addressing reporters.
"But for me personally, there's much bigger news out of San Antonio right now and that's my dear friend Coach Pop. And I'll be thinking heavily about him as I travel there tomorrow. The game on Friday. And I'm wishing him the best of health. And hopefully, I see him soon. It doesn't even have to be on the sidelines. Hopefully I’ll just see him soon. That’s the most important for me," James said via FOX Sports' Melissa Rohlin.
Popovich, 75, was reported to have suffered a mild stroke on November 2, which led to his recent absence from the Spurs, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
"San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2. He is expected to make a full recovery and a timeline for return has not been determined," Charania wrote on his X account.
Charania had previously reported that Popovich, 75, suffered an undisclosed health issue prior to being absent for the Spurs' 113-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 2. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has filled in as the interim with a 3-3 in the six games Popovich has missed.
The Spurs confirmed that Popovich didn't travel with the team for road games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets after his sudden absence on November 2 prior to Charania's earlier report. Popovich is the NBA's all-time winningest coach with 1,390 regular-season victories and 170 postseason wins, as well as five NBA championships, all of which have come during his 29-year tenure with the Spurs.
San Antonio is currently 5-6 through its first 11 games of the 2024-25 NBA season and 12th in the Western Conference, winning two of its last three games, including a 116-96 win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday (November 11).