Patty's magical Gregg Popovich moment

• Australian Patty Mills played Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs for a decade
• Gregg Popovich stepped down as Spurs head coach to move into the front office
• Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA history

Australian point guard Patty Mills won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 under legendary former head coach Gregg Popovich.

During a timeout, coach Popovich was deciding whether to put Mills back into a ball game at the risk of getting his third foul.

Popovich, who resigned as head coach of the Spurs today (May 3, 2025) to take the role of General Manager of Basketball Operations, had he and three assistants as well as Mills vote on whether he should be put back in the game.

Mills played for Popovich between 2012 and 2021 before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Popovich, 76, was the Spurs' head coach for a record 29 seasons from 1996 to 2025 winning five NBA championships.

He suffered a stroke on November 2, 2024 and left the team to recover but his health didn't put him in a position to return.

Popovich's Spurs won 1,422 of 2,291 regular games, a winning percentage of .621.

In March 2022, Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history, passing Don Nelson's mark 1,335.

"While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," Popovich said.

"I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organisation, community and city that are so meaningful to me."

Mitch Johnson has been appointed Spurs head coach. He took the reins while Popovich was sidelined after the stroke.