Gregg Popovich speaks to Spurs ahead of playoff matchup against Portland.
Although Victor Wembanyama and the majority of his teammates will be making their playoff debut on Sunday, the San Antonio Spurs possess a wealth of postseason experience to draw upon.
The primary source of guidance and motivation, however, is the franchise’s former coach, Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich.
A regular presence at the Spurs practice facility as he continues his recovery from a stroke sustained on November 2, 2024, Popovich, 77, spoke to the team earlier this week ahead of their first-round playoff matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
“[Popovich said] just to be ourselves, not to change anything from what we’ve been doing all season,” guard Stephon Castle remarked. “He provided us with a different viewpoint on how well we’ve been performing and the position we’ve established for ourselves. So, we just need to continue doing what has brought us to this point.”
Wise counsel for a team that concluded the season with the second-best record in the league at 62-20 and secured the Southwest Division title for the first time since 2017.
“He’s one of the most successful coaches in history, one of the coaches with the most championships ever,” De’Aaron Fox told reporters on Friday. “So it makes sense that he felt the need to come in and share his insights.”
Spurs veteran Keldon Johnson added to The Athletic: “He looks fantastic. He’s doing really well. It’s always a pleasure to see him. He keeps in touch. He texts or calls me regularly, probably every other day. … Just witnessing his progress and how well he’s doing brings me immense satisfaction, honestly.”
Alongside Wembanyama and Johnson, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are also experiencing the postseason for the first time.
Wembanyama (22), Castle (21), Champagnie (24), Vassell (25), Dylan Harper (20), and Carter Bryant (20) comprise a dynamic and athletic roster that ranked third in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Castle mentioned that Popovich has played a mentoring role.
“He’s assisted me and many of the other players on the team, just by being someone to talk to,” Castle stated. “Whether the games are going well or poorly, knowing Pop, he’ll always give you the honest truth.”
Johnson added: “He’s very supportive. … I mean, he’s definitely still himself. He’s still sharp. He’s still very much Pop. He hasn’t missed a beat at all.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
