SAN ANTONIO,TX - MAY 10: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during game against the Oklahoma City in game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 10, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. (Image: Getty)
Following the Spurs’ 117-110 victory over the Lakers on Monday, Gregg Popovich is one win away from becoming the winningest coach in NBA history.
Monday’s triumph tied “Pop” with former mentor Don Nelson at 1,335 career regular-season wins, and he’ll get a chance to move into sole possession Wednesday when the Spurs host the Raptors.
Popovich notched his total in 370 fewer games—and five fewer seasons—than did Nelson, though. Plus his 1,335-693 record ranks eighth all-time in winning percentage coaches with at least 100 NBA games under their belt.
Popovich started with the Spurs in 1988 as an assistant coach on Larry Brown’s staff, and served until 1992. After a two-year stint as Nelson’s assistant with the Warriors, Popovich rejoined the Spurs as GM and VP of basketball operations in 1994; he became coach in December 1996 and led the team to a Finals victory in his second year as coach.
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The team flourished under Popovich—notching five NBA titles and never recording a losing season from 1997 until 2019. However, his team boasts a 90-118 since 2019 and currently sit in the 12th spot (25-40) in the Western Conference standings, 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot.
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