Popovich suffers mild stroke

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a “mild stroke” earlier this month but is expected to make a full recovery, the team said Wednesday.

The 75-year-old Popovich has missed the past six games with what was initially described as an undisclosed health issue.

In a team statement, the Spurs revealed he had suffered a stroke on 2 November at the team’s arena ahead of a home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Assistant Mitch Johnson has stepped in as interim head coach in Popovich’s absence.

San Antonio said no timeline for his return to the sidelines has been determined.

Popovich, the oldest coach in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, is the league’s all-time leader in victories with 1,390 regular-season wins and another 170 post-season triumphs.

He has guided the Spurs to five NBA titles in his 29 seasons at the helm.