The San Antonio Spurs didn’t need a spotlight to celebrate Gregg Popovich — they just needed a banner.
On Sunday afternoon, ahead of their home opener against the Brooklyn Nets, the Spurs quietly unveiled a new tribute to their legendary coach: a simple white banner hanging in the Frost Bank Center rafters with one unmistakable message — “POP 1,390.”
NBA
That number represents Popovich’s NBA-record total of regular-season victories, all of them with the Spurs.
A Tribute That Fit Gregg Popovich
According to San Antonio Express-News columnist Mike Finger, the Spurs spent weeks planning a way to honor Popovich that he wouldn’t reject outright. A traditional ceremony was out of the question — no tearful speeches, no highlight reel, and definitely no mid-court wave to the crowd.
Instead, Popovich’s longtime friend and Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said the goal was to make the moment “as Pop as possible.” Hours before fans arrived, the team hung the banner quietly in an empty arena.
In bold black letters, it read “POP 1,390,” with five gold stars representing the five NBA championships he coached in San Antonio. At the bottom were the words “HALL OF FAME,” referencing the induction Popovich reluctantly accepted in 2023.
“It was equally important to do this in a way that honors Pop’s approach,” Buford said. “Hopefully this accomplishes both.”
Popovich Was There — Just Not in the Spotlight
True to form, Popovich attended the game but stayed out of sight, watching from a private viewing area. No public-address announcement. No video. No mention of the banner at all.
Still, fans noticed. As they filtered into Frost Bank Center, eyes began to drift toward the rafters, where the new fabric hung beside the retired jerseys of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, Tony Parker and David Robinson.
“It’s very Pop-esque,” new Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson told the San Antonio Express-News.
The understated moment matched the philosophy Popovich instilled over nearly three decades in San Antonio — the “pound the rock” mentality of doing unglamorous work when no one’s watching.
The Greatest Coach of His Era
Popovich’s resume remains one of the most impressive in NBA history. Across 28 seasons, he led the Spurs to five championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), 1,390 regular-season wins, and 170 playoff victories — ranking third all-time in postseason wins.
He coached a long line of future Hall of Famers, from Duncan, Parker and Ginóbili to Kawhi Leonard, David Robinson, and now Victor Wembanyama. Under Popovich, the Spurs produced 15 All-Star selections, three NBA Finals MVPs, and became synonymous with sustained excellence in a small market.
He also guided Team USA to gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cementing his legacy as a global ambassador for basketball.
Popovich earned three NBA Coach of the Year awards (2003, 2012, 2014) and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
His Legacy Still Shapes the Spurs
Even without him on the sideline, Popovich’s fingerprints are everywhere. From the team’s practice habits to the way veterans mentor rookies, his imprint runs through the organization.
“He has his imprints all over it,” Johnson told the newspaper
And the future of the Spurs noticed the past being honored,. Victor Wembanyama saw the new banner only when he glanced up during pregame warmups. “Had it really been raised without an announcement?” he asked later. Of course it had.
A simple banner, five stars, one word: POP. Perfectly understated — and perfectly Popovich.
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