Was Gregg Popovich close to retiring last year?
Just before LaMarcus Aldridge decided to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich assured the top prize on the free agent market that he would still be coaching the Spurs for the length of Aldridge’s four-year contract. There was a time last season where Pop probably would have been hesitant to make that guarantee.
Larry Brown, Popovich’s close friend and mentor, recently revealed that he believes Popovich contemplated retirement when he had some health complications in 2014. Brown spoke to Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News about Popovich’s future:
His hip surgery had gone well, but there was a hiccup with a heart condition that was not unlike the atrial fibrillation that Fab Oberto had. Popovich underwent a procedure, and, after he had done everything the doctors had asked, palpitations returned.
Brown says the episode occurred during the preseason tour in Europe. That eventually culminated with Popovich missing two games in late November for a second procedure.
“I really believe he was close to retiring then,” Brown said.
If you remember, Popovich had to leave San Antonio’s team bus earlier this year when he was having some chest pains. The 66-year-old seems as healthy as ever now, and he must be getting good reports from doctors if he plans to coach until at least 2019.
Unless something unfortunate happens, it appears this Spurs legend is going to be right with his prediction of when Popovich will walk away from basketball.
