PARIS (AP) — Indiana's Rick Carlisle has coached more games against San Antonio's Gregg Popovich than anyone else. They've had 87 head-to-head matchups, including playoffs.
Thursday was supposed to be No. 88.
It won't happen, and nobody knows when — or if — Popovich will be back on the Spurs' sideline. Popovich's absence is a glaring one in Paris this week for the pair of NBA matchups between the Pacers and Spurs on Thursday and Saturday; he's back home, recovering from a November stroke.
The Spurs say he's making progress. Some coaches from around the league have heard the same. That's about the extent of the updates; nobody says much more than that out of respect for Popovich and his privacy.
“He’s really an institution and he’s been such a constant," Carlisle said. "It’s different not seeing him. But I’ve had some communication with him. He’s doing better all the time. And the hope is he'll be back.”
It's certain that not being in Paris — one of his favorite cities — is particularly painful for Popovich this week. This trip has many of the things that he loves most: people from different cultures, incredible food, some basketball and, of course, wine. Lots of wine. He's basically the NBA's sommelier, and the dinners he would have thrown in Paris surely would have been legendary.
Popovich, who turns 76 next week, is the NBA’s all-time wins leader who has guided the Spurs to five championships, plus he coached USA Basketball to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He had the stroke at the team's arena in San Antonio on Nov. 2, getting tended to by emergency personnel who were at the arena for the Spurs' game that night.
“He’s changed my life in terms of just being able to learn under him, watch him from afar and closely, and get to the point where we could challenge each other in ways," acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I’ve been blessed to be able to grow in my voice and be empowered by him in many ways. And we are in contact constantly. He is watching games, still as opinionated as he’s ever been, and competitive, and what you would think — giving praise and cussing me out, all at the same time.”
Johnson took over on almost no notice for that game on Nov. 2 against Minnesota. The Spurs won that game and are 17-19 since Popovich had the stroke, winning six out of eight games in one stretch and four out of five in another. They're in a bit of a slide right now, losing six of their last seven contests. (It should be noted that those wins and losses since Nov. 2, by NBA rule, still go on Popovich's career record because he's still listed as the head coach.)
“Pop’s health has been the priority since the start of this and until dot-dot-dot," Johnson said. "That's kind of how we, and I, take the approach. We want the best for Pop and I want the best for this team and however I can help is where I'll put my energy.”
San Antonio guard Chris Paul joined the Spurs last summer in large part because of his respect for Popovich. He has a photo of himself on the phone in Las Vegas, talking to Popovich when the deal got done.
Turns out, there's far more opportunities for phone time with Pop than Paul ever envisioned.
“I’m not even sure if this is public, but he calls," Paul said. “He calls after games and I talk to him, and he tells me what he sees, and I appreciate that more than anything because he doesn’t have to do that. And he does.”
The thing is, Popovich likely feels like he does have to do that. It's still his team. He's still the coach. Johnson is still one of his assistants. He's still the president. He's just not on the sideline. Or in practice. Or, this week, in Paris.
Will he coach this season? Next season? Ever again? Will he come back in a different capacity? All are valid questions, and the Spurs — a tight-lipped organization by nature — either don't know the answers or can't offer them yet.
It's also unknown what aftereffects of the stroke, if any, Popovich is dealing with. Stroke was the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than half a million Americans have a stroke every year.
“All I can share is he's attacking his rehab in a way that ... you know Pop, you’ve observed him for years," Spurs CEO R.C. Buford, one of the people closest to Popovich, said Wednesday. “The same resilience that he’s shown over the course of our career as a coach, he’s approaching his return in his rehab in an incredibly unique way. The relationships that he had with our former players and the care that they’re sharing with him is amazing. And his improvement continues.”
Time will tell the rest.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
FILE - San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich watches play during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate, File)
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told allies to “keep the pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine, hailing Ukraine as the “party of peace.”
In his opening remarks Saturday, Starmer said Putin will “sooner or later” have to “come to the table.”
Unlike the first summit on March 2, the meeting of what Starmer has termed the “coalition of the willing” is being conducted virtually. The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission in the event Putin backs a cessation of hostilities.
“My feeling is that sooner or later he's going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion, but — this is a big but for us this morning in our meeting — we can’t sit back and simply wait for that to happen," Starmer told leaders while sitting in front of a screen in an office in 10, Downing Street.
“I think that means strengthening Ukraine so they can defend themselves, and strengthening, obviously, in terms of military capability, in terms of funding, in terms of the provision of further support from all of us to Ukraine.”
Around 25 countries are expected to be involved in the call, including European partners such as France and Italy, and Ukraine. Leaders from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as well as officials from NATO and the European Union’s executive, are also set to take part. The United States is not represented at the meeting.
Saturday’s meeting takes place in the wake of a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has backed. Putin has indicated that he supports a truce in principle but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire.
“President Zelensky, who’s with us this morning, has shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace, because he has agreed to and committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire," Starmer said. “Now what we see, and this is centerpiece for our discussions today, is that Putin is the one trying to delay.”
The United States has shifted its approach on the war since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. The change of approach relative to that taken by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, became particularly notable after Trump clashed with Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office.
Trump voiced optimism Friday that Putin, who met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the week, will back a ceasefire.
“I'm getting from the standpoint about a ceasefire and ultimately a deal some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia,” he said.
Starmer has taken the lead, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, in assembling the “coalition of the willing,” in part to persuade Trump to maintain support for Kyiv. One outcome has already been a growing acceptance from European countries in particular that they need to do more to ensure their own security, including by increasing their defense spending.
Images from the Elysee showed Macron and his aides listening to Starmer's opening statement in a room of the French presidential palace.
Ukraine, under severe military pressure on parts of the front line three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the truce proposal. Russia’s army has gained battlefield momentum, and analysts say Putin likely will be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has an advantage.
Starmer said that if Putin is “serious about peace,” he has to “stop his barbaric attacks" on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.
“The world is watching,” he said.
John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with European leaders at the beginning of a video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, March 15, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with European leaders at the beginning of a video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, March 15, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with European leaders at the beginning of a video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, March 15, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, , shakes hands with Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, as French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces Thierry Burkhard, left, look on during a meeting on the conflict in Ukraine at the Musee de la Marine as part of the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum in Paris, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro during their talks via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, March 14, 2025, Russian soldiers ride atop of self-propelled gun at an area in the Kursk region of Russia after it was taken over by Russian troops. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, March 14, 2025, a Russian soldier rises a red flag atop of a house at an area in the Kursk region of Russia after it was taken over by Russian troops. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures during a Q&A session after delivering a speech on plans to reform the civil service, during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, England, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Oli Scarff/Pool Photo via AP)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament in London, England, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
