Popovich and Nelson both have 1,335 wins in their coaching careers
With the San Antonio Spurs' 117-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7, Greg Popovich is now tied with Don Nelson as the two most winning coaches in NBA history. The Spurs broke a four-game losing streak in their win over the Lakers, and it gave Popovich his 1,335th career win, the most that Nelson has ever seen in a head coaching career for the league.
The primary difference between the two great coaches is that Nelson scored his victories in four different franchises in a total of five coaching tenures. Nelson led the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks, but Popovich has coached only one NBA team.
In 1996, Popovich, then serving as San Antonio's general manager, fired Bob Hill and enlisted himself as the head coach of his team. It turned out to be one of his best moves ever. The Spurs have since become one of the most winning teams in NBA history under Popovich's watchful eye. He has won five championships in San Antonio, reached the NBA Finals a total of six times, and helped develop many unlikely prospects such as Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker into superstars.
Now 73-year-old Popovich is leading a very young team. Their Spurs almost certainly won't make it to the playoffs this season as they rebuild around All-Star DeJonte Murray for the first time, but Popovich remains there to help oversee the Spurs' transition to the next era of basketball. In the process, he achieved the last few victories he needed to make history.
With the San Antonio Spurs' 117-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7, Greg Popovich is now tied with Don Nelson as the two most winning coaches in NBA history. The Spurs broke a four-game losing streak in their win over the Lakers, and it gave Popovich his 1,335th career win, the most that Nelson has ever seen in a head coaching career for the league.
The primary difference between the two great coaches is that Nelson scored his victories in four different franchises in a total of five coaching tenures. Nelson led the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks, but Popovich has coached only one NBA team.
In 1996, Popovich, then serving as San Antonio's general manager, fired Bob Hill and enlisted himself as the head coach of his team. It turned out to be one of his best moves ever. The Spurs have since become one of the most winning teams in NBA history under Popovich's watchful eye. He has won five championships in San Antonio, reached the NBA Finals a total of six times, and helped develop many unlikely prospects such as Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker into superstars.
Now 73-year-old Popovich is leading a very young team. Their Spurs almost certainly won't make it to the playoffs this season as they rebuild around All-Star DeJonte Murray for the first time, but Popovich remains there to help oversee the Spurs' transition to the next era of basketball. In the process, he achieved the last few victories he needed to make history.