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San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich remains away from the bench as he recovers from a stroke, with his return this season still up in the air.

“His improvement continues to get better, (but) I don’t know that we have any way to judge the clock,” team chief executive RC Buford told reporters on Wednesday in Paris, where San Antonio will meet the Indiana Pacers twice this week. “Predicting what’s to come is just a function of where Pop’s rehab goes.”

Popovich suffered what the team called a mild stroke on Nov. 2. Interim coach Mitch Johnson has led the Spurs to a 17-19 mark (19-22 overall) in the absence of Popovich, who has coached the team since the 1996-97 season and won five NBA championships.

The winningest head coach in NBA history will turn 76 next week.

Johnson said Popovich is staying in touch with him, and veteran guard Chris Paul added that the coach regularly checks in.

“He’s watching the games, still as opinionated and competitive as ever,” Johnson said in Paris. “He’s giving praise and cussing me out all at the same time.”

Johnson described his communication with Popovich as “consistent.”

“Our conversations are all about how we can improve. We break down the last game, what we need to adjust, and what we’re preparing for next.”

Paul, in his first season with the Spurs, also is happy to have Popovich’s advice.

“He calls me after games and I talk to him and he tells me what he sees,” Paul said. “And I appreciate that more than anything because he doesn’t have to do that.”

Popovich owns a career record of 1,407-843 in 2,250 games with the Spurs. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

–Field Level Media