NBA Teams Have Changed Coaches 265 Times During the Gregg Popovich Era

In the 20 years Gregg Popovich has been with the Spurs, other NBA teams have changed their coaches a total of 265 times.

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As we have seen in recent weeks with the Magic, Kings, Pacers, and Grizzlies, NBA coaching changes happen for a variety of reasons, but one thing is constant: they happen a lot. In total, NBA organizations have made 265 coaching changes since Gregg Popovich took over as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs Dec. 10, 1996. 265!

The Memphis Grizzlies top the list, having changed their coach 13 times since Popovich was hired. The longest tenured coach in franchise history is Lionel Hollins (he was actually fired this year, too!), who stuck around for four years. Orlando and Washington have both made 12 changes during that time.

Here is the full breakdown (number of coaching changes — team):

  • 13: Memphis
  • 12: Orlando, Washington
  • 11: Brooklyn, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Sacramento
  • 10:Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, New York
  • 9: Minnesota, Philadelphia
  • 8: L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee
  • 7: Charlotte, Oklahoma City
  • 6: Indiana, Portland, Toronto
  • 5: Atlanta, Boston, Houston
  • 3: Dallas, Miami
  • 2: Utah

Before Popovich, the Spurs changed coaches quite a bit. In fact, they had six coaches in four years before Pop took over.

Utah is the second most stable organization in the NBA, with only two coaching changes in that timeframe. The current Jazz coach, Quinn Snyder, took over for Tyrone Corbin, who inherited the position from the legendary Jerry Sloan, the first coach to amass 1,000 wins with a single NBA team.

Popovich, a surefire Hall of Famer, has a career record of 1,247-582 (including playoffs). He has won five NBA championships and three NBA Coach of the Year awards. He served as an assistant in San Antonio for four years, then in Golden State for two years, before taking the Spurs' head coaching job. 

His Spurs currently trail the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2 in their Western Conference Semifinals series. Game Six takes place tonight in Oklahoma City at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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