The entire basketball world shared collective concern when it learned that longtime San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich had suffered a mild stroke.

Popovich has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the sideline while focusing on his health, and on Thursday he offered fans and media members an update on his plans for the rest of the season and beyond.

“I’ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season,” Popovich said in a statement released through the Spurs on Thursday.

“[Interim head coach] Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”

Popovich, who turned 76 in January, has been the Spurs’ head coach since 1996. He’s won five NBA championships and has been the league’s Coach of the Year three times.

Popovich has coached NBA legends like David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, as well as current stars like Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama.

Popovich is also an Olympic gold medalist as the head coach of Team USA, winning the tournament during the 2020 Tokyo games.

As Popovich mentioned, it’s been a difficult season for the Spurs. Wembanyama was recently forced out for the year with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder after playing at an All-Star level.

Chris Paul and Gregg Popovich for the Spurs.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 15: Head Coach Gregg Popovich and Chris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs embrace on the court against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 15, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The Spurs are looking to build around Wembanyama, last year’s No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year. The French star has been called the league’s greatest prospect ever, and now the basketball world will wait to see if his health issue affects his career.

Paul already proving a longtime attitude concern is a thing of the past

The Spurs are 5.5 games out of the 10th and final play-in spot in the Western conference. Without Popovich and Wembanyama for the rest of the season – if not longer – it’s difficult to see them competing with some of the playoff-caliber teams in the conference.

Hopefully, Popovich and Wembanyama are both healthy soon, and we’ll see if they’ll each be ready for opening night next season.