Legendary coach Gregg Popovich has committed to the San Antonio Spurs for another five years, signing a contract extension that reportedly surpasses $80 million, setting a new benchmark for coaching salaries in the NBA. This landmark agreement ensures Popovich, a five-time NBA champion, will continue to lead the Spurs, the team officially announced on Saturday.
The deal eclipses the previous record set just last month by Monty Williams, who signed a six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. Popovich's tenure with the Spurs began in 1996, and he has since guided the team to championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, also earning three NBA Coach of the Year awards.
The Spurs enjoyed a remarkable run of 22 consecutive playoff appearances under Popovich, spanning from 1997-98 to 2018-19. However, the team has missed the playoffs for the past four seasons, including a challenging 22-60 record last season – their worst since the 1996-97 season, the same year Popovich joined mid-season.
The future looks brighter for the Spurs following their recent NBA Draft Lottery win and the subsequent selection of highly touted prospect Victor Wembanyama as the first overall pick. Wembanyama's exceptional size, ball-handling skills, and shooting ability have drawn comparisons to LeBron James, generating immense excitement for the franchise.
Last season, Keldon Johnson emerged as a key player for the Spurs, leading the team with an average of 22 points per game. Popovich's extensive coaching experience also includes leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
At 74 years old, Popovich is embarking on his 28th season as head coach of the Spurs, ready to guide the team into a new era with renewed optimism.
