The San Antonio Spurs paid tribute to the greatest figure in their franchise’s history on Sunday, quietly but powerfully honoring Gregg Popovich with a new banner, and a victory fitting of his legacy.
Before tipoff against the Brooklyn Nets, the Spurs unveiled a banner high above the Frost Bank Center that simply read:
“Pop 1,390 – Hall of Fame”, marked with five stars representing the five NBA championships he delivered to San Antonio.
A new banner has been raised in San Antonio 👀
An honor for Coach Pop! pic.twitter.com/Fi6xmLrufH
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2025
A closer look at Coach Pop’s banner 👏 https://t.co/cJzPQR50i8 pic.twitter.com/OJRliNWcsh
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2025
True to Popovich’s understated nature, there were no speeches, no spotlight — just a silent salute to the NBA’s all-time winningest coach.
“That’s probably the way Pop would have wanted it,” said Victor Wembanyama, who led the Spurs to a 118-107 win with a dazzling 31-point, 14-rebound performance. “For sure, it should be up there.”
Popovich, 76, stepped down earlier this month after suffering a stroke, ending his 29-season tenure as head coach. He now serves as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations. Over that span, he amassed 1,390 career victories, three Coach of the Year awards, and guided Team USA to Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Interim head coach Mitch Johnson, a longtime assistant, called the moment “emotional and humbling,” adding, “Everything we do still carries Pop’s fingerprints. His impact goes way beyond banners.”
For Spurs fans, the tribute was both nostalgic and hopeful — a bridge between eras. The soft glow of the banner above, paired with Wembanyama’s dominance below, symbolized a passing of the torch.
Popovich’s Spurs may have defined the past, but on Sunday night, his influence illuminated the present, and perhaps, the team’s future.
(with AFP inputs)
