Popovich Passes Sloan for Third on the All-Time Coaching Wins List

Gregg Popovich just keeps on winning.

Picking up his 1,222nd career victory as a head coach in a San Antonio Spurs double-OT win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Popovich has surpassed Jerry Sloan for third on the all-time coaching wins list. Former Toronto Raptors head coach Lenny Wilkins is next on Popovich’s path to immortality, only 110 wins away. Don Nelson holds the top spot, only three wins ahead of Wilkins.

Outside of Phil Jackson, Coach Popovich is second in winning percentage for head coaches with at least ten seasons under their belt (68.6%).

Head coaches Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle are the only other active coaches in the top-20 for wins, with Rivers quickly approaching the top-10.

If Popovich does choose to continue coaching past this season, he has a very good shot at surpassing Nelson within the next two-three years. Ironically, Popovich spent time under Nelson in Golden State as an assistant coach.