Spurs' Gregg Popovich Ties Don Nelson for Most Wins by HC in NBA History

Popovich was the greatest coach in NBA history.

He has the win total to back it up.

The San Antonio Spurs coach tied Don Nelson for the most wins in NBA history with his 1,335th victory. He achieved the milestone with a win over the Lakers.

San Antonio is currently in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 25-40 record on the season.

Popovich was just 25 wins behind the leader. At the start of the 2021-22 campaign, he had 1,332 wins, which was 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020 800-361-3020

The new record-holder has spent his entire head coaching career with one team. Nelson was the leader of the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

The Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks were all coached by Wilkens.

Popovich was asked about pursuing Nelson's record early in the season and, while he didn't mention much about the record, he said his key to success was to draft Tim Duncan. According to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, after that, stay alive.

Popovich is on the way to joining Nelson and Wilkens in the Hall of Fame with five NBA titles and three Coach of the Year awards during a head coaching career that started with the 1996-97 campaign.

The first championship came in 1999 with a young Duncan and veteran David Robinson leading the way, as well as key figures for the titles in 2003 and 2005 and 2007.

The San Antonio Spurs faced off against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs, while Popovich's fifth championship came with a win over the Miami Heat.

The Miami win was a testament to his ability as a coach because the Spurs lost in heartbreaking fashion to the same team in the NBA Finals the previous season. San Antonio appeared to be on a mission throughout the campaign until it lifted the trophy, but many squad would have struggled to put Ray Allen's famous three that eventually led to Miami's 2013 win behind it.

This season's team is nowhere near the ones that won titles, which is a major reason Popovich's pursuit of history was the biggest Spurs storyline in 2021-22.

There is hope with a young core featuring the likes of Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson.

They have the greatest coach in NBA history leading them in the early part of their careers, which will pay dividends when they hit their primes. They can say they were a part of history.