Gregg Popovich after a historic night: 'The win feels better than the record' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

Gregg Popovich became the all-time winningest head coach in NBA history tonight after a win against the Utah Jazz. The legendary San Antonio Spurs specialist shared his thoughts with the media after a historic win.

Free throws this season

74%14,4Points made:14,4Accuracy:74,0%Place in standings:30Record max:34Record min:4Most made FTs:Derrick WhiteTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"Well, I guess it's obvious what happened. It's just a testament to a whole lot of people. Something like this does not belong to one individual," Pop started his statement.

"You know, basketball is a team sport. You preach to your players that they have to do it together, and that's really been the case in my life with all the wonderful players and coaches, staff that I've been blessed with, the support of this beautiful city," the legendary specialist continued. "The fans support us no matter what. All of us share in this record."

"It's not mine, it's ours here in the city because of all of those people that I just mentioned. That's the joy of it, and after that - that's it, somebody else will have it down the road," Popovich finished his opening thoughts.

Asked about the mentors who paved the way for him to reach the historic milestone, Popovich did not want to exclude specific people, but two coaches were mentioned above all.

"I've had a lot of people along the way, it would be difficult to start naming all the players, coaches, staff that we've had. There've been some people that took a chance on me, mainly Larry [Brown] and Don Nelson. Why? I don't know, but they did, and things worked out."

"The ironic thing about this is Nellie [Don Nelson] gave me a job when I didn't have one back in 1992," Pop remembered his start. "He took me on, and so to be in this position in the same breath as him is in my opinion undeserving and quite awkward because he was so wonderful and saved my family's ass. So it's ironic that I'm sitting here in this situation."

San Antonio Spurs / Schedule

Charlotte Hornets San Antonio Spurs123-117 San Antonio Spurs Los Angeles Lakers117-110 San Antonio Spurs Toronto Raptors104-119 San Antonio Spurs Utah Jazz104-102 San Antonio Spurs Indiana PacersSun01:00 San Antonio Spurs Minnesota TimberwolvesTue00:30 San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City ThunderThu00:30

"The other person I should mention is Hank Egan who in the very beginning made me fall in love with coaching back in the Air Force Academy and R.C. Buford who has been by my side this entire time making decisions," Pop continued. "He deserves as much credit as all the coaches and players and everybody else that I can't name right now. When you're doing it this long, there's a whole lot of names. We're really happy about it, and I emphasize 'we'."

The historic win came against the formidable Utah Jazz, who are one of the favorites to win the entire NBA championship. Wins like this are what make coach Popovich enjoy his job.

"It's just one win tonight. I guess, it means a lot in the sense that the record is there. The win feels better actually than the record tonight," the coach explained. "Utah is a hell of a team, Quinn does a great job, the whole staff. They've got big plans for the playoffs, and to win a game against a team like that is why we do this, not for the record. We do it to have these kinds of wins, so I'm thrilled about the win and really proud of the guys for the way they competed."

"We haven't arrived by any means, but they've shown their competitiveness and willingness to hang in and pound the rock many many times this season when the win didn't show itself but their effort and their tenacious attitude have always been there," Popovich gave praise to his young team after the game.

"You don't have time for such things. None of us coach for records. We coach for wins like tonight. That's why we do it," the legendary specialist continued. "You do it because you like to teach, you do it because you like to see people develop as players and human beings. The records in comparison to that are not important."

Did Pop like the post-game celebrations his team's players made? We know he did, but the coach remained true to himself in the post-game interview.

"They know how much I enjoy that sort of thing. I'm gonna bring them all in to have them run suicides before the game tomorrow," Popovich finished his thoughts.

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