Just a couple of weeks ago, San Antonio Spurs’ long-time head coach Gregg Popovich announced his retirement from coaching. The decision came as a surprise to many. The 76-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in NBA history, and had been at the helm for 29 years. However, it was a decision made keeping his health in mind.
Coach Pop had suffered a stroke back in November and did not feature on the sidelines for the rest of the season. While his coaching career came to an end, he did not leave his beloved team.
Instead, he is now serving as the President of Basketball Operations at the franchise. It’s safe to say that the Spurs will continue to grow under his watchful eye. Meanwhile, the news of his retirement was met with a lot of love.
Well, he was always going to be a legend in the city of San Antonio. He’s given this city a lot to cheer for over the years, not least the five championships. However, it seems that one city councilman has taken it up a notch. Out of all the honors and messages Pop has received, this might be the best. On Wednesday, City Councilmember Manny Pelaez filed a request that aimed to honor Coach Pop’s legacy in San Antonio.
Palaez filed a request to start the process of renaming the San Antonio International Airport after Gregg Popovich. He cited that “Coach Popovich’s impact on San Antonio is immeasurable.” Palaez pointed out Coach Pop’s immense success and recognition in the city and also how he’s deeply respected and admired by the community.
Indeed, the 76-year-old former Spurs head coach’s contributions to not just basketball but the entire city have been massive. Popovich took the Spurs to tie with the Philadelphia 76ers as the team with the most consecutive playoff appearances in NBA history, with 22.
The city of San Antonio approved a $4 billion plan for a new arena and entertainment district for the Spurs.
San Antonio will be receiving a state-of-the-art arena and setup during the Victor Wembanyama era.
A current timeline for finishing the project is unknown. pic.twitter.com/Hkq4OjUZsW
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 16, 2025
Moreover, he nurtured talents like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Victor Wembanyama, the list goes on. However, this isn’t the only huge news coming Gregg Popovich’s way. The city of San Antonio has also approved a $4 billion plan to set up a new arena and entertainment district for the Spurs. This has been approved just months after it was proposed to the city council to capitalize on the Victor Wembanyama era.
While there’s no timeline for the project, it is set to be under development soon. This is huge news for the Spurs fans as a bright future awaits them. In fact, it might get even better with another massive update.
Spurs rumored to be front-runners in the race to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo
Many of us believe that the Dallas Mavericks won this year’s draft lottery. Well, you might not be wrong, as they do have the chance to draft the most talked-about prospect, Cooper Flagg. But the real winners might just be the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have the second overall pick in this year’s draft and also the 14th pick. You might think: How does this make them winners?
Well, they could trade this pick, along with multiple players, to trade for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. This comes after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that for the first time in his career, the Bucks star is open-minded to a move elsewhere.
Jan 6, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) defends during the second quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Indeed, the Spurs have all the assets to land Antetokounmpo. Moreover, they are one of the few teams with the flexibility to accommodate his massive $54.1 million paycheck for the upcoming 2025-26 season without having to give up a fortune. If they do find a way to land the Greek superstar. The franchise would have a scary ‘Big Three’ consisting of Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, and De’Aaron Fox. In fact, according to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, “If the Spurs paired Giannis and Wemby, they would be the favorite to win the title next year.”
“They’d have two guys who might be top-five players in the league next year on the same team.” There’s no doubt about it. The Spurs would have one of, if not the best, defenses in the league. If you add the scoring ability both Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo possess, just the idea gives you goosebumps. The Milwaukee star is coming off another All-Star season, averaging 30.4 points along with 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists. Moreover, he’s had back-to-back failures with his team in the postseason, which might further boost the Spurs’ case. It will be interesting to see how these rumors develop in the coming weeks.
The post $4 Billion News Signals Change for Victor Wembanyama & Gregg Popovich Era Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors appeared first on EssentiallySports.