NBA’s insane coaching casualty rate, with David Blatt 221st fired during Gregg Popovich’s Spurs reign

SPURS boss Gregg Popovich is a legendary 20-season coach in San Antonio. Yet the number of coaches fired across the league during his reign is mind-boggling.

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 21: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts on the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 21, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

GREGG Popovich has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs for about 900 years. In that time, they’ve won roughly 75 championships and been praised as the NBA’s model organisation millions upon millions of times. These are slight exaggerations that prop up the actual facts.

When Popovich first took the job in 1996, the Spurs won only 26.6 percent of their games that season.

In the 19 years that followed, their winning percentage never dropped below 60 per cent. He won five titles and always -- always -- had his team in the hunt come playoff team.

That remarkable consistency is why Popovich has had the job for two decades, while the coaching landscape endlessly melts around him.

Since Gregg Popovich became coach of the Spurs during the 1996-97 season, there have been 221 coaching changes in the NBA. TWO-TWENTY-ONE!

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 25, 2016

That equates to 11 coaches fired per season, with Cleveland Cavaliers boss David Blatt the latest and this season only half done. Blatt had the best NBA record of any coach ever fired when he was shown the door by LeBron James’ ruthless team.

David Blatt with Aussie Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova.

Popovich is miraculous. He’s adapted to countless stylistic changes and trends, always staying one step ahead of the competition. His teams have plenty of talent, sure, but he always gets them to buy in and execute what he wants, when he wants.

None of his success feels replicable. Just like there’s only one Michael Jordan, there’s only one Popovich. He’s timeless and will hopefully still be with San Antonio for another 20 years.

This story originally appeared on FOX Sports US

Originally published as NBA’s insane coaching casualty rate, with David Blatt 221st fired during Gregg Popovich’s Spurs reign