Gregg Popovich Sets NBA Career Wins Record

The legendary Spurs coach recorded his 1,336th career victory on Friday night, passing Don Nelson for most all-time.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich set the NBA’s all-time wins record for a head coach on Friday night, as the Spurs defeated the Jazz 104–102.

With his 1,336th career regular season victory, Popovich passed Don Nelson to become the winningest coach in NBA history. Nelson held the record since April 2010.

After his historic victory set the record, Popovich became only the fourth coach to hold the title of NBA’s all-time winningest coach since Red Auerbach became the outright leader in 1947, according to ESPN.

“[The record] is a testament to a whole lot of people,”, Popovich said postgame. “Something like this does not belong to one individual. Basketball is a team sport, and you preach to your players that they have to do it together and that’s certainly been the case in my life with all the wonderful players, coaches, staff that I’ve been blessed with…the support of this wonderful city, the fans support us no matter what. All of us share in this record. It’s not mine, it’s ours.” 

League commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on Popovich’s historic night.

“Gregg Popovich’s success with the Spurs is unprecedented in our league so it’s only fitting that he now holds the record for most career wins,” Silver said “His leadership and unwavering commitment to the game are widely admired by generations of players and coaches alike. Congratulations to Coach Pop on this latest achievement in his legendary career.”