AP Photo/Eric Gay

NBA Rumors: Spurs' Gregg Popovich 'Expected to Sign' 3-Year Contract Around $14M AAV

Paul Kasabian

The San Antonio Spurs are expected to re-sign five-time NBA champion head coach Gregg Popovich to a three-year contract of around $14 million per season if he decides to return, per LJ Ellis of Spurs Talk.

"Don't expect an official announcement but the front office is operating as if Popovich will return to the sidelines for at least one more season. A couple sources I've discussed this with believe that the addition of Wembanyama could help convince the coaching legend to stick around for a while longer.

"Popovich's latest contract expired after the 2023 season. According to a team source, if and when he officially decides to return, Popovich is expected to sign a three-year contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $14 million per year. The contract will also allow him to opt out after either of the first two seasons."

The 74-year-old Popovich has already enjoyed a sensational and lengthy career leading the Spurs, but a return to the sidelines could be enticing with the team in position to select French superstar Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Popovich has been the Spurs' head coach since 1996, winning championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. He is a three-time Coach of the Year who also led Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in men's basketball at the 2020 Summer Games.

He knows a thing or two about coaching superstar players. The Spurs won the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft lottery and used it to select Wake Forest big man Tim Duncan, who developed into one of the NBA's greatest players during his two decades in the league.

Wembanyama has the chance for a long and fruitful career much like Duncan, and San Antonio is a great landing spot for him to realize his ceiling, especially if Popovich is aboard.

   

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