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Gregg Popovich is losing 32 of his career wins

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 2:45 PM ET

Legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lost 32 of his career wins on Wednesday, but with good reason.

The NBA, with input from the Spurs, is crediting interim coach Mitch Johnson with the 77 games he coaches in Popovich’s place last season. Previously, the games technically counted toward Popovich’s record, since he was still the head coach while on medical leave.

As a result, 32 of Popovich’s career wins have been removed from his record. That takes his record-setting total from 1,422 to 1,390. That is still the most of all time among NBA head coaches. Williams will get 32 wins and 45 losses credited to his own record.

The NBA – working with the Spurs – has adjusted Gregg Popovich's career record, now crediting Mitch Johnson with the 77 games he coached.

Pop's new record: 1,390-824, still the most wins in NBA history.

Johnson went 32-45 in those 77 games, which no longer count toward Pop.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 2, 2025

Popovich does not exactly need the extra 32 wins. He was well ahead of Don Nelson, who is second in NBA history with 1,335 victories. Doc Rivers, the only active coach within shouting distance of Popovich, has 1,162 career wins, leaving him 228 away from Popovich.

There is some precedent for this sort of issue. It became a talking point in 2015, when Luke Walton kept racking up wins on Steve Kerr’s behalf with the Golden State Warriors while Kerr was recovering from back surgery.

Popovich announced his retirement from coaching in May. He is in line for some major honors thanks to his contributions to both the sport and the city of San Antonio.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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