Gregg Popovich Breaks The NBA Win Record While Embracing Warriors' Style Of Playing
Gregg Popovich is considered as the greatest coach in NBA for a reason, and recently he has added a new record to his CV. Legendary coach Gregg Popovich has added a new NBA record to his long list of accomplishments as the head coach of San Antonio Spurs has won his 1,128th game with one team on 4th February 2017.
Moreover, Gregg Popovich has never been shy for praise on his competitors which is perhaps one of the characteristics of greatness. Lately, Gregg has spoken about Warriors and in a good sense. So what did he say?
Record breaker Gregg!
Gregg Popovich has added an NBA record as ‘The Pop’ became the NBA record for most wins with a single franchise adding to his list of accomplishments as the head coach of San Antonio Spurs, winning his 1,128th game with San Antonio on 4th February 2017.
Spurs' clinched 121-97 win over the Denver Nuggets and Popovich passed Jerry Sloan's victory mark set with the Utah Jazz from 1988-2011. Popovich said before the game against Spurs:
"When you get all those wins, it's just a longevity thing more than anything. So I'm thankful for having the job for a while."
Moreover, he added:
"[Utah] was then, and still is, a class organization, and we tried to do it similarly to them as far as how we conducted the program, what we expected, how to do it, how to keep it to yourself, and that sort of thing,"
Gregg Popovich earned his 1,128th wins to pass former Utah coach Jerry Sloan for the mark. Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in NBA history, but adding another championship ring to his collection doesn't define his greatness.
Popovich no prioritizing championships!
Pop recently spoke on December 5, 2016, on a panel in an interview which was moderated by SLAM contributor Dave Zirin with Harvard professor and civil-rights activist Dr. Cornel West, and said that he doesn’t prioritize the championship:
“Win the championship? I don’t know, but it’s not a priority in my life. I’d be much happier if I knew that my players were going to make society better, who had good families and who took care of the people around them. I’d get more satisfaction out of that than a title. I would love to win another championship, and we’ll work our butts off to try and do that. But we have to want more than success in our jobs. That’s why we’re here. We’re here so you’ll understand that you can overcome obstacles by being prepared and if you educate the hell out of yourself. If you become respectful, disciplined people in this world, you can fight anything. If you join with each other and you believe in yourself and each other, that’s what matters. That’s what we want to relay to you all: that we believe that about you or we wouldn’t be here.”
Pop spoke to reporters before his team's game against the Toronto Raptors on January 25, 2017, and told reporters that the Warriors' style of play is "beautiful." Popovich said:
"I don't watch Golden State's film.I watch a game once in a while because Golden State's really fun to watch. You've got to admit that they're in a different league than the rest of us."
Popovich has been the one constant and loyal servant for the Spurs since taking over as head coach in 1996. He had the record of 17-47 in his first season in 1996 with the team, which nowhere indicated that greatness was on the horizon.
In last 21 years, Popovich has established himself as one of the best coaches in NBA or any sport over the past two decades and arguably one of the best coaches in NBA history.