Doc Rivers becomes 10th coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 wins

Gilbert McGregor

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Doc Rivers becomes 10th coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 wins image

Doc Rivers has again rewritten the NBA's history books.

In leading his Philadelphia 76ers to an impressive road win over the Chicago Bulls, Rivers became the 10th coach in NBA history to reach the 1,000 win milestone. He joins San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich as the second active head coach with over 1,000 wins.

Rivers, who began his coaching career with the Orlando Magic in 1999, was named Coach of the Year during his first year on the sidelines. In 2008, he led the Boston Celtics to their 17th NBA title, and he spent seven seasons as the head coach of the LA Clippers.

Here's a breakdown of Rivers' wins:

  • Magic (1999-2004): 339 wins
  • Celtics (2004-2013): 416 wins
  • Clippers (2013-2020): 356 wins
  • 76ers (2020–Present): 57 wins

Making the milestone even more special was the fact that Rivers did it in his hometown of Chicago, which he spoke on following the game, saying "I had no idea that I was at 999. I don’t count. That’s not why I do it and this win being shorthanded, being in Chicago means a lot … and it also means I’m very lucky.”

Rivers remains at 10th all-time but is within reach of catching Hall of Famer Rick Adelman (1,042 wins) this season. Popovich, who is third all-time, could reach first place by the end of the 2021-22 NBA season.

Who are the winningest coaches in NBA history?

(As of Nov. 7, 2021)

Top 10 winningest coaches in NBA history
Rank Coach Career Wins Win %
1. Don Nelson 1976 - 2010 1335 .557
2. Lenny Wilkens 1969 - 2005 1332 .536
3. Gregg Popovich 1996 - Present 1313 .667
4. Jerry Sloan 1979 - 2011 1221 .603
5. Pat Riley 1981 - 2008 1210 .636
6. George Karl 1984 - 2016 1175 .588
7. Phil Jackson 1989 - 2011 1155 .704
8. Larry Brown 1976 - 2011 1098 .548
9. Rick Adelman 1988 - 2014 1042 .582
10. Doc Rivers 1999 - Present 1000 .585

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Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.