The Hall of Fame and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich isn’t expected to be returning to the sidelines this season, according to league sources.

His future in the NBA also remains questionable at the moment, as he continues to recover from the stroke that he had suffered in November.

It’s been a troubling time for the franchise, as the Spurs have had to deal with a season-ending injury to their star player, Victor Wembanyama. The reigning Rookie of the Year was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder after he returned to the team from the All-Star game last weekend. On Thursday, the team decided to leave him out for the remainder of the season - in a year that does appear to be lost already.

Could Popovich Retire From NBA Coaching At The End Of The Season?

Popovich is the NBA’s winningest coach, having managed to record 1,390 regular-season victories and a further 170 in the postseason. He has managed to win five championships and has been with the San Antonio Spurs since the 1996/97 season and turned 76 years old in January.

If he does leave the game, he will be the oldest coach to have done so in NBA history, having surpassed the record of 71 left by Hubie Brown when he retired from coaching as the Memphis Grizzlies head coach.

Assistant Mitch Johnson has been handling coaching affairs on an interim basis since the “mild stroke” Popovich suffered, but is 21-27. With Popovich still the team’s president, he may have to give up something that most have only ever known him to do.