Woj: Popovich may retire after 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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In a column written on Wednesday about NBA's All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned that the Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich may choose to retire after leading the US men's basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

Woj said that few in Popovich's circle would expect him to be the head coach of San Antonio after the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2015, Pop was chosen to succeed Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K, in leading the US men's national basketball team after the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. Woj wrote that Pop might spend the 2019-20 NBA Season on a preparation tour before he performs his duty.

Gregg Popovich (L) and Tim Duncan (R) have won five NBA Final Champions togather. /VCG Photo

The release of the news at this point might not have some negative impact on the Spurs considering the team is in a tricky situation with their super star Kawhi Leonard and in possible pursuit of LeBron James. If Popovich, one of the founding fathers of today's Spurs is about to leave, San Antonio as a small market will be even less attractive to star players.

69-year-old Pop is one of NBA's greatest and most successful head coaches. The Spurs under his leadership missed the playoffs only once in the past 22 seasons and have won five NBA Final Champions. Pop has won 1,197 games as head coach, ranking No.5 in total number and No.4 in winning rates in league history. He has also been awarded Coach of the Year three times.

Maybe it's time for Pop to say goodbye. /VCG Photo

The 2017-18 season was difficult for Pop as Kawhi played only nine games because of an injury and the Spurs won only 47 games in the regular season, the first time going under 50 wins in 18 years. The team was knocked out of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors 1-4 in the first round.

What made things even worse was that Pop lost his wife of 40 years, Erin, in April. He also had to rack his brain to repair the relations between Kawhi and the Spurs in summer. After Tim Duncan's retirement, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili growing too old and the passing away of his wife, maybe Popovich is finally nearing the moment to say goodbye.