By: EFE Updated Mar 2022, 10: 43 am EST
Gregg Popovich, the legendary coach of the San Antonio Spurs, became the coach this Friday with the highest number of wins in the regular season in the history of the NBA.
Gregg Popovich became the coach with the most wins in ALL HISTORY of the NBA.
Absolute legend that made us very happy. pic.twitter.com/H8bfFSLCRg
— Sixth Man (@6tohombreLATAM) March 10, 2022
Popovich achieved his win number 1.336 thanks to the long-suffering but very meritorious victory of the San Antonio Spurs against the Utah Jazz (104-102), which ended up falling after a bad last quarter (40-28) despite the fact that they were winning from 15 points in the absence of 10 minutes.
The Spurs coach surpassed Don Nelson, who until now had the record with 1.335 matches won.
Popovich is synonymous with success, perseverance and fidelity with the Spurs, whom he has managed uninterruptedly since the season 1996-1999. The coach completely changed the DNA of the franchise and led the Spurs to win five rings (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014).
After the game that gave him the record, Popovich assured the media that such a mark “does not belong to a single person.”
“Basketball is a team sport. You lecture your players that they have to do things together and that has certainly been the case in my life with these wonderful players, coaches and team that I have been blessed with, and also with the support of this wonderful city.” explained.
“All of us share this record. It is not mine. It’s ours, from here in the city”, he added.
Likewise, the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, surrendered to Popovich’s legacy. “His success with the Spurs is unprecedented in our league so it’s fitting that he now holds the record for most wins,” he said in a statement.
“His leadership and unwavering commitment to basketball are widely admired by generations of players and coaches. Congratulations to Pop (his nickname) for his latest achievement in this legendary career,” he added.
Numerous NBA personalities praised Popovich for achieving this record, including Spaniard Pau Gasol , who played for the Spurs from 2014 to 2019.
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