Spurs interim coach Johnson on Popovich's health: “He's in good spirits”

SAN ANTONIO – Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is not with the team in Los Angeles to face the Clippers.

Popovich suffered health problems before Saturday's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and did not travel to California.

Assistant coach Mitch Johnson will lead the Spurs indefinitely.

Details about what happened to Popovich are unknown, but Johnson spoke to the media during a news conference in Los Angeles before the Spurs played the Clippers.

“Right now, his health is the number one priority,” Johnson said. “We support him 100%. I spoke to him last night. He's in good spirits, he'll be fine. He's fine. And we can’t wait to have him back.”

Point guard Chris Paul, who is playing his first season with the Spurs, said he has not spoken to Popovich and does not believe any of his teammates have.

He added that they try to give their coach his space.

“He (Popovich) would be the first to tell you not to worry about him and go out and play basketball,” Paul said. “Of course all the guys on our team, the staff, everyone misses him because he’s Pop. There’s a feeling when he’s in the room that calms everyone down.”

While Coach Pop is out, nothing changes on the field and Johnson makes sure everything stays the same.

“Regular programming,” Johnson said. “Of course the circumstances are unique, but as much continuity and familiarity as possible is what I think we are looking for. That’s what Pop would want us to do, and he said he wanted us to do that.”

Paul wants to continue to build on the Spurs' success early in the season and knows Coach Pop will continue to hold him accountable.

“The guys on our team, we’re excited to go out and play,” he said. “We know he will be watching. He will tell us what he sees and we will control what we can.”

According to the Spurs, Popovich will not travel with the team to Houston for Wednesday night's game against the Rockets.

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