Doc Rivers recorded his 500th win as an NBA head coach on Saturday night when the Celtics topped the Hornets, 89-86. Rivers now owns a record of 500-399 and became the 27th coach in league history to reach the plateau.
Rivers is in third place on Boston's all-time win list, possessing a 329-231 record. Red Auerbach had 179 wins and Tommy Heinsohn recorded 427 wins at the helm of the Celtics. In fourth place is KC Jones, who won 308 games as the Celtics head coach.
Jones has the 26th most wins in NBA history with 522 wins in ten years. Rivers could catch Jones this season, but not in the regular season, as Boston has just 14 games remaining before the playoffs. If Rivers were to win 23 games in a row (highly unlikely, I know), he would tie and pass Jones in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Rivers is one of six active coaches with at least 500 wins. Lakers coach Phil Jackson leads all active coaches with 1,147 wins wile Denver coach George Karl is second with 1,027 wins. Houston's Rick Adelman has 938 wins, San Antonio's Greg Popovich has 791 wins and Washington's Flip Saunders has won 629 games.