1336 wins!Popovich’s 26 years of loyalty forged a new legend, the most cohesive team he single-handedly created
Metro Express reports On March 12, Beijing time, the Spurs played against the Jazz at home.
With 0.3 seconds left in the game, the Spurs sent the baseline ball and the outcome was decided.
When the Spurs player released the ball and the final 0.3 seconds of the on-court timer passed, the live broadcast duly shifted the camera to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
The old man continued his usual serious style, looked up at the score, without any superfluous expression on his face, walked towards the opposing coach Snyder, and both sides shook hands. Dejounte Murray, who is now playing for the Spurs, came over and hugged Popovich, and Gay, who used to play for the Spurs, also came and hugged Popovich. The old man’s face was still expressionless.
Until Poeltl broke through the crowd of reporters, hugged the old man, and a group of young people from the Spurs came up and shouted and danced around Popovich, the old man’s face finally showed a smile.
At this time, everyone came to their senses, this is Popovich’s 1336th career victory. It was the historic moment when he surpassed Nelson Sr. to become the most winning head coach in NBA history.
26 years of founding the new NBA legend, the old man attributes the credit to everyone
This sudden hug was by no means impromptu, but a celebration planned by the young Spurs today.
Due to the familiarity with Popovich, the Spurs never discussed how to celebrate Popovich’s milestone. But the players were ready to celebrate. Spurs players are well aware of the old man’s character. “Popovich doesn’t like compliments from others, he doesn’t like it at all, he’s a guy who just wants to focus on winning and every day, he never cares about his own compliments,” Murray explained.
Seeing that the old coach finally smiled under the crowd, Murray, the only All-Star left on the Spurs, whispered in Popovich’s ear: “Coach, you deserve it.”
Yes, looking at today’s American basketball, and even the world’s basketball, no one deserves this honor more than Popovich.
The 73-year-old has spent his 26th season with the Spurs, the longest tenure as a head coach in any of the four major North American sports leagues. In official NBA parlance, Popovich’s success with the Spurs is unprecedented in the league, and he deserves to keep those records.
26 years is enough for a baby boy to grow into the backbone of a basketball team, and for Popovich, it’s just his time on a team.
The old man did not take credit, he attributed all this to the people around him. “It’s a testament to the hard work of a lot of people,” Popovich said. “It’s a record we all share. It’s not mine, it’s ours, it belongs to the city.”
He only accepted the players’ gifts – the game ball for this game.
From captain to Spurs coach
God closed the door but opened a window
Popovich, 73, whose full name is Greer Charles Popovich, was born on January 28, 1949 in East Chicago, Indiana, USA.
Popovich’s basketball career was not only smooth sailing, but full of ups and downs. In his second year of high school, he was expelled from the school team. After a summer of hard training, Popovich returned to the school team in his senior year and served as the team’s main center.
After graduating from high school, Popovich chose to study at the United States Air Force Academy for the benefit of free tuition and fees.
In 1972, Popovich, who had been promoted to the rank of captain and was serving in southern Turkey, became the captain of the combined basketball team of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, and went to military bases in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union for friendly games and exchanges.
There are few videos of the game at that time, and it is no longer possible to test whether Popovich traveled around Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union for the game.
But, that started Popovich’s basketball career.
In 1973, Popovich returned to the United States to complete the remaining two years of service at the Air Force Academy while pursuing a master’s degree in physical education and kinesiology at the University of Denver. Living in a basketball dream, he once went to the Denver Nuggets for a trial training, but was hit by reality. At 1.88 meters, he has absolutely no ability to establish a foothold in professional basketball, and there is no suspense.
God closed the door of being a professional player for Popovich, but opened another window for him.
Popovich’s performance left a deep impression on then-team head coach Larry Brown (also a famous NBA coach), who felt that Popovich’s basketball talent was limited, but his basketball IQ was extremely high. In 1988, Larry Brown, the head coach of the Spurs, invited Popovich to be his assistant coach, and the old man’s NBA legendary career began.
4 years as an assistant coach for the Spurs, and then joined the Warriors as an assistant coach under the old Nelson for 2 years. After 6 years of tempering, Popovich, who has a high IQ and a high emotional intelligence, has mastered basketball tactics.
In 1994, the Spurs invited Popovich to be the team’s general manager. In 1996, Popovich became the team’s head coach as general manager.
Unexpectedly, the position of the head coach will be 26 years.
