Larry Brown on Popovich: Heart condition nearly forced retirement last season
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has made it clear he'll fulfill his contract before walking off into the sunset. However, the 66-year-old was almost forced into retirement late last year due to an underlying health issue which reared its ugly head.
The three-time NBA Coach of the Year was absent for two home games in November against the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings with what was reported as "an undisclosed minor medical procedure."
Larry Brown, a former NBA Coach of the Year in his own right and current sideline general for Southern Methodist University, cleared the air about what was ailing his close friend to the San Antonio Express-News' Buck Harvey (subscription required):
His hip surgery had gone well, but there was a hiccup with a heart condition that was not unlike the atrial fibrillation that Fab Oberto had. Popovich underwent a procedure, and, after he had done everything the doctors had asked, palpitations returned.
Brown says the episode occurred during the preseason tour in Europe. That eventually culminated with Popovich missing two games in late November for a second procedure.
“I really believe he was close to retiring then,” Brown said.
Popovich is the key link in the Spurs' chain. It's impossible to know otherwise, but would the likes of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili have stuck around for another title run without their beloved coach? Would LaMarcus Aldridge sign his reported four-year, $80 million contract without Pop in the picture?
Having a clean bill of health supersedes anything on the hardwood, and all indications are Popovich finished the 2014-15 campaign without any further episodes.
Popovich will soon take part in the NBA's Africa Game 2015, coaching Team Africa as they go head-to-head with Team World on Aug. 1.
- With a h/t to Pro Basketball Talk