By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-04 10:18:40
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024年10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)向他的球员们发出指示。（美联社照片/内特·比林斯）
在格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在周六对阵明尼苏达的比赛前出现健康问题后，助理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)将无限期担任马刺队的临时主教练。
马刺队没有透露任何关于波波维奇病情的细节，但一位联盟消息人士称，这位NBA历史上的胜场最多的教练“没事”，“只是需要休息”。
马刺队周一上午宣布，75岁的波波维奇将不会跟随球队进行为期两场的客场之旅，该旅程始于周一晚上在洛杉矶对阵快船队的比赛，并计划于周三晚上在休斯顿对阵火箭队的比赛结束。
由于未公开的疾病，波波维奇缺席了周六晚上对阵明尼苏达的比赛。在比赛开始前于弗罗斯特银行中心向记者宣布这一消息时，一位球队发言人说波波维奇“身体不适”。
约翰逊在比赛开始前约2个半小时被告知这位五届NBA总冠军无法上场后，接替了波波维奇的职务。
“他感觉不舒服，”约翰逊在赛前告诉记者。“这种情况以前也发生过。我认为每个人都必须随时做好准备，顶替上场。我们之前也遇到过伤病的情况，有时人们会生病或感觉不舒服，或者生活中会发生一些事情。他只是感觉不舒服。”
在马刺队周四晚上在盐湖城战胜犹他爵士队的比赛后，波波维奇看起来很健康，这是圣安东尼奥背靠背比赛的第二场。
约翰逊是前西雅图超音速队前锋约翰·约翰逊的儿子，他于2016年加入马刺队。在奥斯汀马刺队效力三年后，他于2019年被提拔到波波维奇的教练组。
“米奇做得很好，”控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)在马刺队以113-103战胜森林狼队后说道。“联盟中总是会发生各种事情，就像球员一样，‘下一个上’。所以要为米奇点赞。”
马刺球星文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)表示同意，并指出约翰逊为替补席带来了一种更柔和的风格。
“肯定和波波的行为不一样，”文班说道。“但还不错。”
这是约翰逊第三次顶替波波维奇。
第一次是在2021年5月，当时波波维奇抽出时间参加蒂姆·邓肯的名人堂入选仪式。马刺队在那天以103-140输给了菲尼克斯太阳队。
2023年3月，波波维奇因病缺席，约翰逊带领球队以110-99战胜印第安纳步行者队。
2014年11月，波波维奇缺席了几场比赛，但俱乐部没有说明他缺席的原因。前马刺队教练拉里·布朗后来向《圣安东尼奥快报》透露，波波维奇患有心脏病，与前马刺队球员法布里西奥·奥博托(Fabricio Oberto)经历的心房颤动类似。布朗说，波波维奇在欧洲季前赛期间发作后接受了手术。
那次发作最终导致波波维奇在2014年11月下旬缺席了两场比赛，进行了第二次手术。
“我真的相信他当时快要退休了，”布朗说道，他于1988年夏天将波波维奇带到圣安东尼奥加入他的教练组。
波波维奇执教马刺队已进入第29个赛季，这使他成为北美四大职业体育联盟中现役任期最长的教练。2020年，他成为NBA历史上揭幕战中最年长的教练。当时他72岁。
2018年4月18日，波波维奇的妻子去世时，整个NBA都团结起来支持他。艾琳·波波维奇(Erin Popovich)在与呼吸系统疾病长期斗争后去世，享年67岁。
波波维奇于2023年7月与马刺队续签了一份5年8000万美元的合同，这使他的年薪增加到1600万美元，使他当时成为NBA薪酬最高的教练。
这位空军学院毕业生和前美国空军军官于1996年12月接任马刺队主教练，并赢得了1391场比赛和5个NBA总冠军。他的季后赛战绩为170-114，在NBA历史季后赛胜场榜上排名第三，仅次于菲尔·杰克逊(229胜)和帕特·莱利(171胜)。
波波维奇于2023年8月入选奈史密斯篮球名人堂。
San Antonio Spurs assistant coaches Matthew Nielsen, left, and Mitch Johnson whisper to each other during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Frost Bank Center on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Pelicans, 114-113.
San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson directs play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in San Antonio, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul has a word with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs yells to his team during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, speaks with Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 30: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talks with his team during a timeout during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on October 30, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Thunder defeated the Spurs 105-93.
点击查看原文：Popovich out indefinitely after suffering health issue
Popovich out indefinitely after suffering health issue
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gives instructions to his players during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will serve as interim head coach of the Spurs for an indefinite period after Gregg Popovich suffered a health issue before Saturday’s game against Minnesota.
The Spurs have not disclosed any details about Popovich’s condition, but a league source said the NBA’s all-time winningest coach is “OK” and “just needs rest.”
The Spurs announced Monday morning that Popovich, 75, would not be with the team during its two-game road trip that began Monday night against the Clippers in Los Angeles and is scheduled to end Wednesday night with a game against the Rockets in Houston.
Popovich sat out Saturday night’s game against Minnesota due to an undisclosed illness. In making the announcement to reporters before the game at the Frost Bank Center, a team spokesman said Popovich was “under the weather.”
Johnson took over for Popovich after being informed about 2½ hours before tipoff Saturday that the the five-time NBA champion would not be available.
“He’s not feeling well,” Johnson told reporters before the game. “This has happened before. I think everybody’s just always got to be ready for the next man up. We’ve had it with injuries and sometimes people get sick or don’t feel well or things come up in life. He’s just not feeling well.”
Popovich appeared to be healthy after the Spurs’ win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in Salt Lake City, the second game of a back-to-back for San Antonio.
Johnson, son of former Seattle SuperSonic forward John Johnson, joined the Spurs in 2016. After three years with the the Austin Spurs, he was promoted to Popovich’s staff in 2019.
“Mitch did a great job,” point guard Chris Paul after the Spurs’ 113-103 win over the Timberwolves. “Things happen within this league all the time, and just like with players it’s ‘next man up.’ So shout out to Mitch.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama agreed, noting Johnson brings a softer touch to the bench.
“Definitely not the same behaviors as Pop,” Wembanyama said. “But it was good.”
It’s the third time Johnson has filled in for Popovich.
The first came in May of 2021, when Popovich took time off to attend Tim Duncan’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Spurs dropped a 140-103 decision to Phoenix that day.
In March of 2023, Popovich was out with illness and Johnson guided the team to a 110-99 win over Indiana.
In November 2014, Popovich missed a couple of games, but the club gave no reason for his absence. Former Spurs coach Larry Brown later revealed to the San Antonio Express-News that Popovich had a heart condition not unlike the atrial fibrillation experienced by former Spurs player Fabricio Oberto. Brown said Popovich underwent a procedure after an episode occurred during a preseason tour in Europe.
That episode eventually culminated with Popovich missing two games in late November 2014 for a second procedure.
“I really believe he was close to retiring then,” said Brown, who brought Popovich to San Antonio in summer 1988 to serve on his staff.
Popovich is in his 29th season as coach of the Spurs, making him the longest-tenured active coach in the four major North American pro sports leagues. In 2020, he became the oldest coach ever on an opening night in NBA history. He was 72 at the time.
The NBA world rallied around Popovich when his wife died on April 18, 2018. Erin Popovich was 67 when she died after a long battle with a respiratory illness.
Popovich received a five-year, $80 million contract extension from the Spurs in July 2023, which increased his salary to $16 million per year, making him at the time the highest-paid NBA coach.
The Air Force Academy graduate and former U.S. Air Force officer took over as coach of the Spurs in December 1996, and has won 1,391 games and five NBA championships. His postseason record is 170-114, placing him third on the NBA’s all-time playoff chart behind Phil Jackson (229) and Pat Riley (171).
Popovich entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2023.
San Antonio Spurs assistant coaches Matthew Nielsen, left, and Mitch Johnson whisper to each other during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Frost Bank Center on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Pelicans, 114-113.
San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson directs play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in San Antonio, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul has a word with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs yells to his team during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, speaks with Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 30: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talks with his team during a timeout during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on October 30, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Thunder defeated the Spurs 105-93.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News