Tim Duncan to Serve as Spurs Head Coach Tuesday Night as Gregg Popovich Takes Personal Day
The San Antonio Spurs are without head coach Gregg Popovich Tuesday night as the team takes on the Charlotte Hornets.
The veteran coach is missing the game due to personal reasons, and Tim Duncan will serve as head coach in his place.
From Spurs PR: "Gregg Popovich will miss tonight's Spurs-Hornets game due to personal business.
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) March 3, 2020
"Tim Duncan will serve as the Spurs head coach tonight in place of Pop.'
Duncan retired following the 2015-16 season and became an assistant coach this past summer. He will now get his first full game in as a head coach that could be a preview of what is to come if he takes over for Pop one day.
One main talking point from this decision is that Becky Hammon did not get the nod. She will still work directly with Duncan in the game and it is possible Popovich did not want her first game as head coach to be in a one-off role.
Serious question: Why not Becky Hammon? https://t.co/A0mnfkXNlI
— Eric Adelson (@eric_adelson) March 3, 2020
Popovich is expected back in the Spurs next game after this brief absence and the coaching staff will be back to normal. A great game out of Duncan could go a long way in raising his stock for opportunities around the NBA.