San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has not been with his team lately. It has been unusual to see the Spurs play without the figure of Popovich standing on the sideline offering guidance — after all, the man affectionately known as “Pop” has been in charge in San Antonio since 1996, breaking records and winning multiple NBA championships along the way.

But earlier this month, the Spurs announced that Popovich would be taking a leave of absence from coaching, in the wake of a significant health issue that prompted widespread concern around the NBA. The Spurs have since revealed what has been ailing Popovich — and whether he can return to coaching.

Popovich’s return yet to be determined

On Nov. 2, Popovich suffered a mild stroke while working at Frost Bank Center, the Spurs’ home arena. As a result, he did not join the team on its road trip and has not coached any of San Antonio’s past six games. Assistant Mitch Johnson has taken over and guided the team to a 3-3 record in that span.

In a statement, the Spurs revealed that Popovich, 75, has already started a rehabilitation program and is expected to make a full recovery from his stroke. However, the organization did not say when Popovich — the NBA’s all-time leader in wins — would return to the San Antonio sideline, instead choosing to focus on the support it has received from the larger NBA and local communities.

Popovich, a five-time NBA champion as the Spurs’ coach, is 12 wins away from 1,400 regular-season victories. His young San Antonio team is loaded with talent, from Victor Wembanyama to rookie guard Stephon Castle and future Hall of Fame guard Chris Paul. Only time will tell if Popovich gets to see the fruits of his labor from his usual position on the bench.