Spurs' Victor Wembanyama Gets Emotional About Gregg Popovich
The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since Gregg Popovich led them to their fifth championship in 15 years by besting the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.
The Spurs drafted 7-foot-4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Then came Stephon Castle with the fourth overall pick in 2024 and Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in 2025. It was understood that this trio could bring multiple championships back to San Antonio in the relatively near future. It turns out, they’re ready to win now.
The Spurs defeated the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. Wembanyama won the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy as the Western Conference Finals MVP.
Mitch Johnson is the head coach now, but Popovich has still played an integral role in the Spurs’ return to their rightful place as championship contenders.
At his postgame presser, Wembanyama was asked what he thought this must mean to Popovich, and Wembanyama needed a moment before responding.
“I can’t answer that question,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t know what it means for him. That’s a guy who’s got more experience as a coach than almost anybody and has been so many things in his career and so many things right now as ‘El Jefe.’ He goes through some things we can’t even imagine. So, I need to call him. I need to see him. I need to talk to him.”
Popovich stepped away from coaching and became the Spurs’ president of basketball operations last May. He had suffered what was reported as a “mild stroke” in November 2024 and another “medical incident” in April 2025. As the head coach of the Spurs for 29 years, Popovich collected three NBA Coach of the Year awards, five NBA titles, and an NBA all-time record of 1,390 wins.
Popovich won his first championship ring against the New York Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals, and the Knicks hadn’t returned to the Finals since then - until now.
New York is riding an 11-game winning streak into the Finals, and they’re as close as they’ve ever been to winning their first championship since 1973. But with Popovich in their ears, the Spurs won’t be intimidated. Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs is set for Wednesday, June 3, in San Antonio.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 5:25 PM.