Announced! Goodbye Popovich! Spurs have confirmed a successor

Shams：Due to physical reasons, Popovich is no longer the head coach of the Spurs and has transitioned to full-time president of the team.

Popovich said in this statement, saying that although the love and passion for the game is still there, it is time to step down as head coach...... This is the beginning of an era and the official end of the curtain.

Immediately afterwards, the Spurs officially confirmed the news of Popovich's departure, and at the same time announced that Mitch Johnson would take over as the team's new coach.Johnson has been an assistant coach for the Spurs for a decade and has been recognized as interim head coach after suffering a stroke at Popovich last November.

Since 1996, Popovich has been the head coach of the Spurs until this year, a length of 29 years, during which time he led the team to five championships, reached the playoffs in '26, won three Coach of the Year awards, and is the head coach with the most wins in NBA history (1,422 regular season wins).

But as mentioned above, although he is no longer the head coach of the Spurs, he is in management and is the president, which is actually more conducive to controlling a team and building the team according to his own philosophy, and this summer offseason may be able to see how the old man can make a big difference in the free and trade markets.

This season, the Spurs only have a 34-48 record, ranking 13th in the West, but with Wembanyama and Fox, they are still very optimistic about the future, and even if they can get Durant or Brother Alphabet this summer, they will take off directly next season.

The Spurs have as many as 36 draft picks in the next seven years, and the trade assets are definitely one of the richest teams in the NBA, but if you want to trade to a superstar like Durant or Antetokounmpo, you need to take a young star with potential, so Castle, the No. 4 pick in the first round in '24, may become a core bargaining chip.

Castle played in 81 games for the Spurs this season, almost full attendance, averaging 26.7 minutes per game, contributing 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists, shooting 42.8%, 28.5% and 72.4% from three.

Finally, congratulations to Popovich on starting a new chapter in his life, and I hope he can shine in his new position!