Gregg Popovich has been the talk of the NBA since becoming the winningest coach in the history of the league this week. The San Antonio Spurs beating the Utah Jazz allowed Coach Pop to overtake Don Nelson and further his legacy as one of the NBA’s biggest legends. And congratulations have been pouring in for Coach Pop, from players and coaches around the league to the fans.
Doc Rivers has added his name to the list of people giving Pop his flowers, and he did it hilariously too. Rivers has been a Head Coach in the league since 1999 and has been around for a lot of Popovich’s biggest achievements in that time. The two have both won the NBA championship, so there is a level of understanding that exists between them on that front too.
“Ey Pop, what took you so long, man? We’ve been waiting forever for you to do this. Pop, you’re the best, you deserve it. I have to say I contributed to a lot of those wins. Congratulations!”
Rivers coached the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference going up against Pop and his Spurs a number of times during the 2010s. He’s suffered his share of defeats against the legendary Popovich and that’s what his joke about contributing to the record likely means. It could also be a joke about Rivers reportedly losing the opportunity to lure Tim Duncan away from the San Antonio Spurs, but it’s less likely that he’d bring that particular situation up.
Rivers is 10th on the all-time list having crossed 1,000 wins recently and is probably the best placed coach in the NBA to overtake Pop’s record. All of it depends on how long Popovich decides to remain coach though, so it’s not like Rivers will be counting his chickens just yet.
