After a disappointing first round elimination, the San Antonio Spurs will lock-in their mastermind coach going forward.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Gregg Popovich is expected to sign a new three-year contract that will keep him as head coach of the team.
At $11 million per season, Popovich is currently the highest paid coach in the league. His new contract will keep him at the top of the list. The official news comes a day after Popovich said he was in talks of negotiating a new deal with the organization.
Next season with be Popovich’s 24th season with San Antonio, beginning his tenure as head coach in 1996, although he was an assistant between 1988 and 1992. In that time, ‘Pop’ has helped make the Spurs one of the premiere organizations in the NBA.
Popovich as an assistant with the Spurs in 1989, alongside David Robinson and Larry Brown. Photo credited to Getty Images.
The Spurs have captured five NBA titles with Pop as head coach, most recently in 2014, one of only five head coaches to do so. He has coached four All-Star Games, and won the Coach of the Year Award three times.
Popovich is third all-time in head coaching wins at 1,245, and the Spurs are made the playoffs for a 22nd consecutive year this season, tying the longest streak in league history. Pop and the Spurs will have an opportunity to break the record next season with his return confirmed.
Known equally for his dry sense of humor and short interviews as he is his winning, Popovich has one of the most well-known characters in the league.
Despite not going deep into the playoffs, San Antonio’s near future is in good hands under Pop. The team will need to get better this summer, but one thing is for certain: the Spurs will have the league’s best coach on their sideline once again.
Featured image credited to Getty Images.
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