Popovich's visit to the team came a week after the Spurs announced that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama — the defensive player of the year favorite at the time and someone who was a serious candidate to make the All-NBA team — will not play again this season after deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, was found in his right shoulder.

Popovich, 76, is the NBA’s all-time leader in head-coaching wins, with a 1,391-824 regular-season record (.628).