The San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich became the all-time winningest head coach in NBA history, with 1,336 victories, when they defeated the Utah Jazz on Friday.
Popovich surpassed Don Nelson, who previously held the record for most regular-season wins with 1,335. In the number three spot is Lenny Wilkens with 1,332 and in fourth place, Jerry Sloan with 1,221 wins.
“It’s just a testament to a whole lot of people,” Popovich said. “Something like this does not belong to one individual. Basketball’s a team sport. You preach to your players that they have to do it together and that’s certainly been the case in my life with all the wonderful players and coaches, the staff that I’ve been blessed with, the support of this wonderful city. The fans support us no matter what. “All of us share in this record. It’s not mine. It’s ours, here in the city.”
Popovich, 73 years of age, is in his 26th season with the Spurs, the longest tenure of any head coach in all four of the U.S. major sports leagues. Following the game, he was presented the game ball by Spurs All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in the locker room celebration.
“Coach Pop you deserve it and we all love you and we’re glad we’re here to be able to enjoy this moment with you,” Murray said in presenting Popovich the ball to commemorate the feat.
Popovich, who was selected as one of the NBA’s top 15 coaches of all time last month, has won five championships and three Coach of the Year awards. He has a record 23 consecutive winning regular seasons and also had a run of 22 straight playoff appearances.
Popovich first joined the Spurs organization under the legendary coach Larry Brown in 1988. After four seasons, he left and joined Nelson with the Golden State Warriors in 1992 as an assistant. He was with Golden State for two years before returning to San Antonio as their general manager and vice president of basketball operations in 1994. During the 1996-97 campaign, Popovich took over as head coach, where he has remained ever since.
In 1997, Popovich made the pick that would change the Spurs forever, selecting Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick. Just two years later, they won their first championship in a strike-shortened season over the New York Knicks.
Popovich drafted Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker before giving up the day-to-day GM duties to R.C. Bufford in 2002. He oversaw the selection of Kawhi Leonard in 2011. Duncan was a slam dunk No. 1 choice, but he drafted Leonard 15th, in a draft day trade with the Indiana Pacers, sending George Hill to the Pacer. Parker was selected 28th in 2001 and Ginobili 57th in 1999. He developed them into Hall of Fame bound players, when no one else projected them as stars.
Without the ability to attract big-name free agents to San Antonio, Popovich brings out the best in most of everyone he coaches. He won a title with the ‘Twin Towers’ David Robinson and Duncan in 1999 and another with Stephen Jackson as his third option in 2003 against the New Jersey Nets. He won his third ring when the Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons in 2005. Popovich collected his fourth ring in 2007 when they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. He earned his fifth ring against the two-time defending champions, the Miami Heat in 2014.
Gregg Popovich belongs on the Mount Rushmore of NBA coaches, alongside Red Auerbach, Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. They are a clear-cut top coaching quartet as you will find in any major sport.
