Ailing Popovich back at practice
The most notable participant in the Spurs’ practice Tuesday morning did not take a shot or even touch a basketball.
Gregg Popovich was back on the floor after missing Sunday’s loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles with an undisclosed illness.
To hear at least one Spurs player tell it, the 73-year-old coach is back to full strength.
“I feel he ain’t changed at all,” small forward Keldon Johnson said.
Popovich fell ill just before tipoff Sunday, handing the reins to assistant Brett Brown in a 123-92 loss to the Lebron James-less Lakers.
His return to the practice court suggests Popovich will be in line to coach Wednesday’s game against New Orleans at the AT&T Center.
Johnson said Popovich was his spirited self during a two-hour workout at the team’s Northwest Side practice facility Tuesday.
“We’re glad to see him healthy and still staying on us,” Johnson said. “That’s a good sign.”
Popovich’s absence was both unexpected and sudden Sunday.
Nothing appeared amiss during his pregame meeting with the media, which came 90 minutes before tipoff.
Brown said he only became aware Popovich would not be coaching “20 seconds” before the game began. Johnson said players tried to take the news in stride.
“Pop’s tough,” Johnson said. “Of course you want Pop to be healthy and in good health, but he’s a tough guy.”
Poeltl becomes last Spur sitting
Starting center Jakob Poeltl also missed Sunday’s loss in L.A. with a sore right knee.
Unlike his head coach, Poeltl did not participate in Tuesday’s practice, leaving his availability for Wednesday’s game in doubt.
Until the Lakers game, Poeltl had been the only Spurs player to appear in each of the team’s first 17 games.
It wasn’t exactly a Lou Gehrig Iron Man streak, but it was impressive enough given the pounding Poeltl takes on a nightly basis.
“He’s consistent every game,” Johnson said. “You know what you’re going to get every game. If all of us can be that consistent, we’ll be in good shape.”
With Poeltl out against the Lakers, 32-year-old Gorgui Dieng drew his first start in a Spurs uniform.
He scored seven points with seven rebounds in 21 minutes.
“At this time in my career, I think I’m here for emergencies,” said Dieng, who is in his 10th NBA season. “If things don’t go well, I have to step up and help this team. I’m here to help these young guys and play any role the team wants me to play.”
Rookie ready to battle Zion
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson enters Wednesday’s game looking more and more like his old unstoppable self.
That could spell trouble for the 19-year-old rookie scheduled to guard him. Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan says he is unfazed by the impending assignment.
“I’m really excited,” said Sochan, the eighth overall pick in the June draft. “He’s a great player. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up for it.”
After missing all of last season with a foot injury, the 22-year-old Williamson is averaging 22.3 points and six rebounds.
The No. 1 pick in 2019, Williamson is flashing the freakish form that made him an All-star in his last healthy season of 2020-21.
At 220 pounds, Sochan gives up 65 pounds to the 285-pound Williamson.
Williamson has faced the Spurs once before this season, in an Oct. 9 preseason game.
Sochan’s first impression was self-evident.
“He’s big,” Sochan said.