National, local media provide further updates on Gregg Popovich health concerns

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich remains absent from his head coaching duties as he is sidelined indefinitely with an undisclosed health issue that began Saturday night, 90 minutes before the Spurs faced the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shams Charania of ESPN went on NBA Today with new updates surrounding the future Hall of Famer.

"It was a health issue and a serious health issue that the Spurs dealt with, and Gregg Popovich dealt with over the weekend," Charania said. "It was a situation on Saturday night pre-game Popovich needed medical attention in San Antonio.

When the news broke, fans expected Coach Pop to be back on the sidelines for the next game against the LA Clippers. Missing more than one game is unusual for coaches, but he's now missed two, and there is no timetable for his return.

"It is still uncertain when he is going to make it back on the floor, on the sidelines for this team. There is a great level of concern around the situation for the Spurs, for Popovich."

Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News also chimed in with some of his latest updates on the 29th-year head coach.

"This is being handled quite differently from his previous one- and two-game absences," Finger said on X.

Mike Finger is a long-time journalist with the San Antonio Express-News. He's covered the Spurs for years, so when he says this situation is "being handled quite differently," it's worrisome to a fan base that wants nothing but the best for the longest-tenured coach in the NBA.

The team is not providing any updates regarding Popovich's health or a timetable for his return to respect the privacy of the situation. But assistant head coach and interim head coach Mitch Johnson was able to comment on the situation.

"He'll be okay and we can't wait to have him back," Johnson said. "He's in good spirits."

Per point guard Chris Paul, Popovich has not spoken to any of his players.

"I haven't, and don't think any of the guys on the team have," Paul said. "Obviously, we wanted to. We're trying to give him space, and trying to make sure we can control what we can control."

Popovich's absence for the past two games against the Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers matches the most consecutive games he's missed in the regular season. The Spurs face the Houston Rockets for the third time in eight games on Wednesday and Popovich will not be with the team.

San Antonio has entered a soft stretch of their schedule with games against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and Sacramento Kings, who are the most talented team out of the pack but have had an up-and-down start to the season as they attempt to implement DeMar DeRozan's strengths into their lineup.

Coach Popovich is on the minds of everyone he's touched in his illustrious career, but unfortunately, the players don't have the luxury of shutting things down until their fearless leader returns. They'll have to go out on the court and build off the things Pop taught them with Mitch Johnson at the helm.

"Obviously, the circumstances are unique," Johnson said. "But as much continuity and familiarity we can have, I think is what we're looking for. That's what we know Pop would want. He said he wants us to do it. We have talked and nothing changes."

Johnson will continue to be the acting head coach during Popovich's absence. This summer, Johnson was a finalist for the Washington Wizards head coaching position, which went to Brian Keefe. The Spurs are in good hands until the all-time winningest coach is back on the sidelines.