In a notable but not unprecedented move, the NBA has revised the official coaching record of Gregg Popovich, the all-time wins leader in league history. The league removed the 77 games Popovich missed during the 2023–24 season due to a health issue, assigning those wins and losses to Mitch Johnson, who stepped in as acting coach and has since been named the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
Final Career Record Updated
Gregg Popovich’s final coaching record now stands at 1,390 wins and 824 losses, resetting his total to where it was on November 2, 2023, the night he suffered a stroke at the Spurs’ home arena in San Antonio.
- Previous record: 1,422–869
- Adjusted record: 1,390–824
- Games removed: 77 (recorded as 32–45 under Mitch Johnson)
This change reflects the NBA’s agreement that Johnson was functionally the head coach for the remainder of the season.
Still Leading Off the Court
Although Popovich announced his retirement as head coach earlier this year, he continues to serve as President of the Spurs and remains an active presence around the franchise.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” said Popovich in his retirement statement.
Not the First Time the NBA Made Adjustments
This isn’t the first time the NBA has reassigned coaching wins. A similar situation occurred in the 1979–80 season, when Paul Westhead took over for Jack McKinney following a bicycle accident. McKinney was credited with a 10–4 record, while Westhead received the remaining 50–18.
Legacy Still Untouched
Despite the revision, Popovich remains the all-time wins leader in NBA coaching history, sitting 53 wins ahead of Don Nelson (1,335).
He also moves slightly up in winning percentage:
- Updated Winning %: .628 (from .621)
- Rank: 7th all-time (among coaches with at least 400 games)
- Ahead of: Pat Riley, Steve Kerr, Red Auerbach
- Behind only Phil Jackson, Billy Cunningham, K.C. Jones, and others
Mitch Johnson Takes Over
Mitch Johnson, a longtime assistant under Popovich, officially takes over as Spurs head coach following Pop’s retirement. His 32–45 mark from last season is now part of his career coaching record as he begins a new chapter for San Antonio.
