Spurs' Gregg Popovich becomes 9th NBA coach to win 1,000 games

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won the 1,000th regular-season game of his 19-year career when San Antonio defeated Indiana, 95-93, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won the 1,000th regular-season game of his 19-year career when San Antonio defeated Indiana, 95-93, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday. 

Popovich (1,000-462) becomes just the ninth coach to cross the 1,000 wins threshold, joining Don Nelson (1,335-1,063), Lenny Wilkins (1,332-1,155), Jerry Sloan (1,221-803), Pat Riley (1,210-694), Phil Jackson (1,155-485), George Karl (1,131-756), Larry Brown (1,098-904) and Rick Adelman (1,042-749).

"Not too much celebrating," Popovich told reporters afterwards. "I've been here a long time and I've had good players. That's the formula. Getting the players is difficult, but I've been fortunate to have good ones. The time -- that's the most important element. You have to be around for awhile. It's more a tribute to [the players] obviously than any coaches."

Only Jackson and Riley reached 1,000 wins faster than Popovich, who needed 1,462 games: Jackson (1,423) and Riley (1,434). The most recent coach to reach 1,000 wins was Adelman in April 2013.

Popovich's reign of coaching excellence is unmatched when it comes to longevity and consistency. He has served as the head coach of the Spurs since 1996-97, making him the NBA's longest-tenured active coach, and he joins Utah's Sloan as the only two coaches to win 1,000 games with a single franchise. From the start of the 1996-97 season through Sunday's action, the Spurs' winning percentage of .677 is by far the highest, easily outpacing the Lakers (.621), Mavericks (.597), Heat (.581) and Suns (.569). 

Spurs Franchise Wins: Popovich, 1996 - Present | FindTheBest

All told, Popovich has guided San Antonio to 17 consecutive playoff appearances, 16 50-win seasons, four 60-win seasons, six Finals appearances and five championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), while taking home three Coach of the Year awards (2003, 2012 and 2014). 

The only coach with at least 1,000 wins who has a better career winning percentage than Popovich is Jackson, who coached Michael Jordan's Bulls and the Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant Lakers.

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The list of notable players who took the court on Popovich's teams is a long one indeed. In addition to Hall of Famer center David Robinson, Popovich has guided future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, and the likes of Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry and Kawhi Leonard.

Popovich's influence upon the NBA's coaching and management ranks is arguably even more impressive. Current coaches with ties to Popovich include Steve Kerr (Warriors), Brett Brown (Sixers), Mike Budenholzer (Hawks), Monty Williams (Pelicans), Quin Snyder (Jazz), and James Borrego (named interim coach by the Magic this week). A list of executives with ties to Popovich includes Kevin Pritchard (Pacers), Danny Ferry (Hawks), Sam Presti (Thunder), Dell Demps (Pelicans), Dennis Lindsey (Jazz) and Rob Hennigan (Magic). Former coaches with ties to Popovich include Mike Brown, Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro and Jacque Vaughn.

The 66-year-old Popovich -- known for his dry, sarcastic wit and impatience during in-game interviews -- began his coaching career as an assistant at the Air Force in 1973. He coached at Division III Pomona-Pitzer college from 1979 until 1987 before joining the Spurs in 1992 as an assistant under Larry Brown.