1,422 wins. Five championships. Twenty‑nine seasons. When Gregg Popovich announced his retirement, he capped a record 2,291‑game head‑coaching tenure. That’s more than any other NBA coach, highlighted by 22 straight winning seasons and a .599 playoff winning rate. Yet even that storied résumé pivoted on one turning point: a 1999 incident that could have triggered a globe-altering butterfly effect. Now, as the Spurs prepare for life without their architect, the stakes for maintaining that legacy have never been higher

The Spurs wrapped their 2024–25 season with a 34–48 record, finishing 13th in the Western Conference and once again missing the playoffs. While this marked their sixth straight season without a postseason berth, this year came with a particularly heavy blow. Longtime head coach Gregg Popovich suffered a minor stroke in November and was forced to take an indefinite leave. Without Pop at the helm, the Spurs lost more than just a coach—they lost their anchor. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson stepped in, but the absence of Popovich’s leadership and experience was palpable. It’s hard not to wonder if things might have turned out differently had the voice that built five championships still been courtside.

On SiriusXM NBA Radio, ex‑Spur Antonio Daniels recounted how a player‑only meeting in 1999 almost ended Popovich’s tenure. “If we don’t win tonight in Houston and turn this thing around, Gregg Popovich is probably coaching his last game in Houston,” Daniels recalled of the 1998–99 season. “That was my first year in San Antonio. Tim Duncan. David Robinson. All them—they had played under Pop the year prior. But there was a love for Pop.” Daniels made it clear: this wasn’t a team quitting on its coach.

“It’s not like the team wasn’t playing well because we weren’t playing hard, like Pop had lost the locker room or anything… we just weren’t clicking.” Then came the turning point: a player-only meeting before a game in Houston. They won that night—and never looked back. “We went into Houston, won in Houston, and ended up running off,” he said. That win saved Pop’s job. And, in Daniels’ words, “if Pop would have been fired, how that would have changed the course of basketball history—not just for me, not just for San Antonio Spurs fans, but for all NBA fans.”

That Houston victory triggered Popovich’s first championship and a dynasty. The Spurs, under Popovich, went on to win their first NBA championship that same year in 1999, ushering in a dynasty built on loyalty, discipline, and brilliance. Daniels said it best: “Tim Duncan may not have played his entire career in San Antonio. The San Antonio Spurs may not be in San Antonio anymore.” But Popovich stayed, and the Spurs flourished.

Over the next two decades, he led the franchise to four more titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, becoming the longest-tenured coach in NBA history and a symbol of consistency and class. What started as a win-or-go-home night in Houston turned into a legacy that shaped the modern NBA.

Now, this long-standing relationship is reaching its conclusion, with Popovich retiring from his role as head coach of the Spurs.

The winningest coach: Gregg Popovich

Pop started off at Pomona-Pitzer, where his coaching journey began pretty humbly. But from there, he led the Sagehens to their first SCIAC title and NCAA Division III Tournament berth within six seasons. That success set him up for bigger things. Eventually, he became Larry Brown’s assistant before taking over the Spurs in 1996. From that moment, he transformed the team, guiding them to five NBA titles and a crazy 22-season streak of consecutive playoff appearances.

But Pop’s legacy isn’t just about the hardware—it’s really about the culture he built. He wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. He was a mentor who helped shape players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili into Hall of Famers. Pop’s approach was all about team-first mentality, discipline, hard work, and selflessness. He once said, “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock… It’s all about persistence and working toward a larger goal.” That mindset became the heartbeat of the Spurs’ dynasty.

Gregg Popovich’s famous “stonecutter” mantra—derived from Jacob Riis’s metaphor about persistence—became the Spurs’ cultural bedrock. It perfectly encapsulated Popovich’s belief in incremental effort leading to breakthrough success. His influence radiates through an expansive coaching tree. Mike Budenholzer (NBA Coach of the Year), Monty Williams (2022 NBA Coach of the Year), and Becky Hammon—now San Antonio’s head coach—each honed their craft under Pop.

And let’s not forget how Popovich impacted basketball beyond San Antonio. He took the U.S. team to gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making up for past setbacks in international play. With over 1,500 wins, he holds the record for most career wins in NBA history. Plus, his influence stretches across the league, with former assistants like Mike Budenholzer and Monty Williams carving out successful head coaching careers of their own. Pop’s legacy is bigger than just one team—it’s felt throughout the entire NBA.

As Popovich transitions to a new role as team president, he leaves behind an indelible mark on both the Spurs and the league. “I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach.” His legacy isn’t just in the wins or the trophies; it’s in the values he instilled and the lives he changed.