NBA Reveals Shocking Revision to Gregg Popovich’s Spurs Record Following Mysterious Stroke Hiatus

Gregg Popovich’s all-time career record as San Antonio Spurs head coach has been adjusted by the NBA.

AdvertisementThe adjustment to Popovich’s record won’t affect the NBA’s record books. The longtime Spurs coach is still the winningest coach in league history and is now 53 wins ahead of Don Nelson’s 1,335. His career winning percentage gets a bump from .621 to .628, a number that is seventh in league history among coaches with at least 400 games.This isn’t the first time the NBA has had to make an adjustment to a coach’s win-loss record. As Reynolds noted, after Los Angeles Lakers head coach Jack McKinney was injured in a bicycle accident after 14 games during the 1979-80 season, Paul Westhead took over and led the team to a 50-18 record. Those 68 games in charge were eventually credited to Westhead.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, the Spurs and the league worked together to update Popovich’s record to remove the 77 games he missed last season after suffering a stroke in early November.Adjustments to coaching records aren’t everyday headlines, but when it involves a legend like Gregg Popovich, it sure catches the eye. The NBA and the Spurs recently revisited Popovich’s career stats, deciding to exclude the 77 games he missed last season due to his stroke — a tough chapter for the iconic coach. Now, with 1,390 wins and 824 losses officially recorded up until the day he stepped away, it’s a tidy reflection of his incredible tenure. At 76, Popovich is stepping into a new role as full-time team president, passing the baton to Mitch Johnson. Despite this tweak, let’s be clear: Popovich remains the NBA’s winningest coach, extending his lead further from Don Nelson. It’s these kinds of recalibrations — rare but necessary — that remind us the game’s history is always evolving, just like Popovich’s enduring legacy. LEARN MORE.“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said in a team statement. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”The Spurs announced on May 2 that Popovich, 76, would step down as head coach and transition into the role of full-time team president. One of Popovich’s assistants, Mitch Johnson, who took over on an interim basis and went 32-45, was hired as head coach.Advertisement