Spurs’ Gregg Popovich becomes NBA regular-season wins leader

Gregg Popovich’s title is on prime of the NBA regular-season victory listing. He thinks of it extra as a gaggle accomplishment.

“All of us share on this file,” Popovich mentioned Friday night time after getting his record-breaking 1,336th victory when the San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 104-102. “It’s not mine. It’s ours, right here within the metropolis.”

Popovich broke a tie with Don Nelson, the good friend and mentor he served as an assistant below whereas with Golden State for 2 seasons. The milestone got here in Popovich’s 2,030th sport and twenty sixth season with the Spurs, the one franchise for which he has served as head coach.

“It’s only a testomony to an entire lot of individuals,” Popovich mentioned. “One thing like this doesn’t belong to 1 particular person. Basketball’s a group sport. You preach to your gamers that they must do it collectively and that’s definitely been the case in my life with all of the fantastic gamers and coaches, the employees that I’ve been blessed with, the assist of this excellent metropolis. The followers assist us it doesn’t matter what.”

Unsurprisingly, the night was met with zero fanfare. That’s, till the top — gamers mobbed the 73-year-old Popovich when the sport was over, leaping round and hugging him till he might break away and headed to the locker room. Popovich was doused with a cooler of water and big roars might be heard from the locker room because the Spurs celebrated together with Corridor of Famer David Robinson.

“Tonight, he needed to get pleasure from it,” Spurs level guard Dejounte Murray mentioned. “He had no possibility.”

Reward or celebration of any achievement is usually brusquely deflected or just ignored by Popovich. To listen to Popovich clarify it, he merely reveals as much as work and rolls the ball onto the court docket.

Nothing might be farther from the reality.

He is the fourth coach, going again to the top of the NBA’s first season, to face atop the wins listing. Pink Auerbach held the mark for a couple of half-century, adopted by Lenny Wilkens, adopted by Nelson — and now, Popovich.

“The ironic factor about that is Nellie gave me a job after I didn’t have one again in ’92,” Popovich mentioned. “He took me on. To be on this place, as the identical breath as him, is in my view undeserving and fairly awkward as a result of he was so fantastic in saving my household’s (behind). So, it’s ironic that I’m sitting right here on this state of affairs.”

Popovich’s first stint in San Antonio led to 1992, working for Larry Brown — till the entire teaching employees obtained fired. That’s when Popovich obtained a job as an assistant in Golden State, working for Nelson for 2 seasons. He returned to the Spurs in 1994 and took over as coach in 1996.

The Spurs launched a video from Nelson after the sport, congratulating Popovich — whom he referred to as one among his greatest buddies — and telling him how proud he’s of his former assistant’s accomplishments “and all of the fantastic belongings you’ve accomplished for basketball, worldwide.”

“I’m so pleased with you for doing it,” Nelson mentioned. “I couldn’t anticipate this present day to occur.”

Popovich has gained 5 NBA championships and 13 division titles and was just lately named one of many 15 best coaches in league historical past. He has coached NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Crew members Robinson and Tim Duncan, future Corridor of Fame members Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in addition to journeymen who discovered careers in San Antonio equivalent to Danny Inexperienced and present NBA coaches Steve Kerr, Monty Williams, Ime Udoka and Doc Rivers.

“Gregg Popovich’s success with the Spurs is unprecedented in our league, so it’s solely becoming that he now holds the file for many profession wins,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned in a press release.

“His management and unwavering dedication to the sport are extensively admired by generations of gamers and coaches alike. Congratulations to Coach Pop on this newest achievement in his legendary profession.”

San Antonio gained 50 video games for a league-record 18 straight seasons from 2000-2017 below Popovich. The Spurs matched a league file with 22 consecutive playoff appearances however have missed two straight postseasons since their streak led to 2017.

Whereas the glory days appear distant, Popovich continues plugging alongside.

Popovich joked that teaching Duncan, Parker and Ginobili had grown “boring” as a result of they knew the whole lot. The present roster is the antithesis of that.

“For what he’s meant to the career to so many individuals and to myself,” mentioned Utah coach Quin Snyder, who coached the Spurs’ G League group from 2007-2010. “That is sort of the pure evolution of what it must be primarily based on the integrity with which this program has gained for therefore a few years and him being the chief and personifying it.”

This 12 months’s group is the youngest of Popovich’s profession. The Spurs have totally embraced a rebuild expedited by Kawhi Leonard’s pressured departure from San Antonio together with the retirement of the Huge Three.

Murray, who has emerged because the group’s latest star, had 27 factors and 9 rebounds to guide the Spurs previous the Jazz. Murray made two free throws with 4.8 seconds and 1 of two with a second remaining to seal the victory.

“We did it for Pop,” Murray mentioned. “(We needed Popovich to) actually take this in and be pleased about it. This doesn’t occur. It’s uncommon. He deserves it. He’s an awesome man. An important coach.”

Murray’s 17-footer tied it at 84 with 5:28 remaining to shut an 18-3 run by the Spurs. Lonnie Walker IV made two of three free throws to place San Antonio up 96-95 for its first lead since Josh Richardson’s 15-footer put them forward 5-3 1:31 into the sport.

Donovan Mitchell had 24 factors for Utah, and Rudy Gobert added 13 factors and 16 rebounds.

Former Spurs ahead Rudy Homosexual pulled Utah to 103-102 on a 3-pointer with 1.0 seconds left.

“None of us coach for data,” Popovich mentioned. “We do it for wins like tonight.”

UP NEXT

Jazz: Host Sacramento on Saturday night time.

Spurs: Host Indiana on Saturday night time.