It’s not that he’s the winningest coach in NBA historical past. It’s not how he created a tradition in San Antonio that continues to develop as the following era of enter the fold. It’s not who he’s at his core. It’s all of that after which some.
Sometimes, now we have to remind ourselves simply how exceptional a person Gregg Popovich is. How wonderful a coach he was. And the way dominating a profession he maintained for the higher a part of three a long time.
And these reminders aren’t merely for these of us lucky sufficient to witness the greatness in actual time. That is for the youthful followers who’re simply now studying in regards to the Spurs, understanding what made the staff particular earlier than Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Stephon Citadel, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant had been drafted.
Over his illustrious profession, Pop received 170 playoff video games as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. Greater than the grand complete for 20 NBA franchises. That’s twenty groups (out of the twenty-nine that didn’t have Gregg Popovich as head coach) that as a franchise haven’t received extra NBA playoff video games than he did.
Solely the Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, Hawks, Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, Knicks, and Thunder have received extra. However that takes into consideration their franchise historical past. The Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, Hawks, Warriors, and Knicks beginning competing in 1946. The Pistons have been in Detroit since 1957. The Bulls joined in 1966, and the SuperSonics in 1967.
If we restrict the timeline to the identical 12 months that Gregg Popovich anointed himself head coach (the 1996-1997 season), then he has clearly bested every staff the NBA threw at him.
• The Lakers (his closest rival) have received 169,
•The Celtics have received 160,
•The Hawks have received 57,
•The Warriors have received 118,
•The 76ers have received 79,
•The Bulls have received 70,
•The Pistons have received 89,
•The Knicks have received 80,
•The Thunder/SuperSonics mixed have received 104 (90 because the Thunder and 14 the SuperSonics received from 1997 till the transfer to OKC).
From 1997 to 2025, nobody received extra playoff video games than the Spurs. And contemplating the Spurs didn’t make the playoffs in 1997 or after 2019, El Jefe’s numbers pop (see what I did there) much more.
There are such a lot of methods to level out Popovich’s greatness. This is only one. However it is very important notice. The Spurs are on the daybreak of a brand new period. Of their first journey into the postseason for the reason that pandemic, the Spurs made it to the Finals.
It’s time to elevate your heads up and put together to root for an excellent 12 months. The muse was laid years in the past when a coach from Pamona-Pitzer caught the attention of Larry Brown. On the time nobody knew, however that relationship modified the trajectory of the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA.
Welcome to the Thread. Be a part of within the dialog, begin your personal dialogue, and share your ideas. That is the Spurs neighborhood, your Spurs neighborhood. Thanks for being right here.
Our neighborhood tips apply which ought to remind everybody to be cool, keep away from private assaults, to not troll and to look at the language.
