For a large part of the NBA ecosystem, players, leaders, coaches like fans around the world, Gregg Popovich embodies obvious. He has been on the Spurs bench for a long time, has always been there and crosses the eras, he who directed his first match on December 10, 1996. In an NBA then controlled by David Stern, dominated by Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and who was going to celebrate his 50th anniversary.
For almost three decades, the coach has marked the history of the League and San Antonio, before being dismissed from the field by his mini-HOV at the start of the season. After five directed matches, he joined the infirmary before bowing out on Friday evening, 76 years old.
It is therefore time for the balance sheet and many tributes. There is a lot to say, to tell, but to return to the highlights of his legendary career is a good way to understand the impact of Gregg Popovich on the NBA of the last thirty years.
An Olympic title
That he took control of Team USA after the very successful mandate of Mike Krzyzewski seemed obvious. However, the beginnings of Gregg Popovich on the bench of the national team were failed, with a more than disappointing World Cup, ended in seventh place. We had to react during the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which will be done. This Olympic gold medal, the last collective outcome of his career was a great moment for him.
“Each title is special, each group is too. But I can be honest and say that I had never felt so much responsibility. Because we play for so many people who look at their country, and other nations are involved. The responsibility was enormous and I have felt it every day for a few years now. So I feel lighter now ”, He said after competition in Japan.
Three times appointed coach of the year
Only three coaches were crowned coach of the year three times during their career. It was Pat Riley who was the first to do so in 1990, 1993 and 1997. Then Don Nelson, in 1983, 1985 and 2002. Finally, “Pop” joined the club with its trophies won in 2003, 2012 and 2014.
5 NBA titles
This is obviously the strongest, the best known figure. Gregg Popovich allowed Spurs to win the title five times, in six participations in the finals. The Texans were crowned in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, with a defeat in 2013 against Heat.
There are only two coaches who have more rings on the fingers: Phil Jackson (11) and Red Auerbach (9). He shared this third place in the podium with John Kundla (1949, 1950, 1952-1954), former coach of Lakers at the time of Minneapolis, and with Pat Riley, still he, sacred with Les Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and Heat (2006).
22 following qualifications in playoffs
This record still has at least a good decade of serenity before him, before being worried. Indeed, between 1998 and 2019, the Spurs will be constantly qualified for the playoffs. No “play-in” at that time, so for 22 years, we knew that the Texans would be there for the first round. They were also eliminated in the first series only six times in 22 years … It is the NBA record, shared with the Syracuse Nationals (the Sixers) between 1950 and 1971. Currently, the franchise that cumulates the most consecutive participations, it is Boston, with eleven in a row.
Inevitably, when we participate 22 times in the playoffs and reach the finals six times, we coached and won a lot, many games at this level. With his 284 games played, Gregg Popovich is the second most capped coach in playoffs, behind Phil Jackson (333) and his 170 successes are the third total, still behind the “Zen Master” and Pat Riley (respectively 229 and 171).
29 seasons on the Spurs bench
Coaching 29 seasons in the NBA is already an incredible performance since only Lenny Wilkens and Don Nelson have more seasons on the clock than the now ex-coach of San Antonio. But unlike these two, Gregg Popovich remained all the seasons on the bench without ever taking a sabbatical year or changing stable along the way. No one has led a single team for so long and this record may well be unbeatable.
This is precisely 2291 matches on the same bench. Only Erik Spoelstra, in Miami, is really able to approach this record, but he still has 932 games late, just over eleven seasons to do again …
62% regular season victories and 60% in playoffs
If Gregg Popovich has remained on the Spurs bench so long, it is of course because it was very efficient. It displays a percentage of exceptional victories in the regular season: 62%. Among the coaches that have at least trained three seasons in the NBA, only Joe Mazzulla (74%), Phil Jackson (70%), Billy Cunningham (69%), Larry Bird (68%) and KC Jones (67%) are doing better. And if we compare with those who have at least ten seasons, then there is only Phil Jackson and KC Jones before him.
As for the playoffs, he won 60% of the meetings he played, the 13th best percentage in history and the 5th among the coaches that led 100 or more matches at this level of competition.
303 coach changes since December 10, 1996
It may be the craziest, the most symbolic figure in the longevity of Gregg Popovich. Since his first match on the Spurs bench on December 10, 1996, faces on the benches have continued. The proof with the figure put forward by the Associated Press: 303 changes of coach in the NBA. While the Spurs began each season with the same coach, the NBA therefore knew more than 300 movements on the benches …
1,422 regular season victories
On March 11, 2022, after a success against jazz, Gregg Popovich became the most victorious coach in the history of the NBA, going beyond Don Nelson. Three years later, and even if he only run five games this season (successes go directly to his record, not that of Mitch Johnson, this is the rule for temporary work), he will therefore end his career with 1,422 successes. There are only 17 coaches in the history of the NBA which led 1,422 matches – won this total!
And if we look at the total of the successes of the Spurs since their arrival in the NBA in 1976 (2339), we can calculate that Gregg Popovich is at the origin of 60% of the successes of this franchise. Who could break this record? Doc Rivers is the active technician “closest” with 1,162 success. Rick Carlisle displays 993 victories and Erik Spoelstra is 787 success.
