Spurs reach NBA Finals, Wembanyama seeks connection with ailing Popovich

Victor Wembanyama struggled to articulate his emotions after the San Antonio Spurs clinched a spot in the NBA Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 to win the Western Conference title.

The rookie forward's focus immediately turned to Gregg Popovich, the legendary former coach and current president of basketball operations. Popovich, 77, has been battling health issues since a stroke in November 2024, which effectively ended his coaching career. Despite his health challenges, he remains a significant presence, attending practices and games, and even offering a pep talk after a loss in the Western Conference Finals.

"I don't know what it means for him," Wembanyama said of Popovich. "He's a guy who has more experience as a coach than almost anyone and has been through so many things in his career and so many things now as 'El Jefe.' He's going through things we can't even imagine. So I need to call him. I need to see him. I need to talk to him, because there's no way right now I can understand how he feels."

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I don't know what it means for him. He's a guy who has more experience as a coach than almost anyone and has been through so many things in his career and so many things now as 'El Jefe.' He's going through things we can't even imagine. So I need to call him. I need to see him. I need to talk to him, because there's no way right now I can understand how he feels.

Popovich, who retired last year, still holds immense influence. He introduced his successor, Mitch Johnson, as coach with a jacket revealing a shirt that read "El Jefe." Spurs guard Devin Vassell highlighted Popovich's enduring impact, stating, "You talk about the best coach practically of all time and to be able to sit here and tell you the experiences that they went through or that he went through or that he sees... It helps. It helps a lot... He has so much wisdom and things you can't take for granted."

The Spurs will begin their quest for an NBA championship against the New York Knicks in the Finals, with Game 1 set for Wednesday in San Antonio. Knicks coach Mike Brown is intimately familiar with Popovich's methods, having served as an assistant under him for three years.

“

You talk about the best coach practically of all time and to be able to sit here and tell you the experiences that they went through or that he went through or that he sees... It helps. It helps a lot... He has so much wisdom and things you can't take for granted.