Gregg Popovich’s tenure as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs spans more than two decades and includes five NBA championships. Yet his greatest legacy may be the network of former assistants who now lead their own teams. Popovich’s coaching tree is among the most prolific in professional sports, producing head coaches who have reached the NBA Finals, won championships, and reshaped franchises. This article examines the most prominent figures from that tree, the principles they learned in San Antonio, and the impact they continue to have across the league.

The Roots of the Popovich Coaching Tree

Popovich’s philosophy extends far beyond X’s and O’s. He deliberately hires assistants with a hunger to learn and then gives them genuine responsibility. Under his leadership, assistants run practice drills, coordinate defensive schemes, and even serve as de facto head coaches during preseason games. This hands-on training creates a rigorous apprenticeship that produces coaches ready to lead from day one. The result is a diverse group of head coaches who share a common foundation: selfless ball movement, disciplined defense, and an unwavering commitment to player development.

Key Assistants Who Became Head Coaches

Mike Budenholzer: The Winningest Popovich Disciple

Mike Budenholzer spent 17 seasons as an assistant with the Spurs (1996–2013), earning four championship rings before becoming the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. In Atlanta, he immediately installed the Spurs’ ball-movement offense, leading the Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. He then moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he adjusted his system to maximize Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance. In 2021, Budenholzer led the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years, cementing his place as one of the premier coaches of his generation. His teams consistently rank among the league’s best in both offensive efficiency and defensive rebounding, a direct reflection of Popovich’s emphasis on fundamentals.

Brett Brown: Building Through the Process

Brett Brown served as a Spurs assistant from 2002 to 2013, overseeing player development and later serving as the head coach of the team’s NBA G League affiliate. He left San Antonio to become the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the team’s infamous “Process” era. Despite the extreme roster turnover and heavy losing, Brown developed raw talents like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons into All-Stars, earning respect for his patience and teaching ability. After leaving Philadelphia, he returned to the international stage, coaching the Australian national team to a bronze medal at the 2021 Olympics. Brown’s career illustrates Popovich’s belief that resilience and long-term development yield eventual success.

Becky Hammon: Breaking Barriers

Becky Hammon made history in 2014 when Popovich hired her as the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history. She spent eight years on the Spurs’ bench, leading the Summer League team to a championship in 2015 and frequently drawing praise for her basketball IQ and leadership. In 2022, she became the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, and she immediately led the team to back-to-back championships (2022, 2023). Hammon’s success has opened doors for women across the NBA and WNBA, a testament to Popovich’s willingness to look beyond conventional hiring practices and focus purely on competency and character.

Ime Udoka: The Defensive Mastermind

Ime Udoka joined Popovich’s staff in 2012 after a journeyman playing career. Over seven seasons, he became known as an elite defensive tactician and a strong communicator with players. He left to become an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and later the Brooklyn Nets before the Boston Celtics hired him as head coach in 2021. In his debut season, Udoka transformed the Celtics into the league’s best defense and guided them to the 2022 NBA Finals. While his tenure in Boston was cut short, his immediate impact proved that the Spurs’ defensive principles could thrive in a new environment. Udoka is now the head coach of the Houston Rockets, tasked with rebuilding a young roster with the same defensive discipline he learned in San Antonio.

Kenny Atkinson: Player Development Expert

Kenny Atkinson served as a Spurs assistant from 2008 to 2012, focusing on player development and international scouting. He later became the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, inheriting a roster with limited talent but vast potential. Atkinson prioritized skill development, transforming players like D’Angelo Russell into an All-Star and building a team culture based on pace and spacing. After his time in Brooklyn, he served as an assistant with the LA Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, where he helped develop young talent like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. Atkinson’s career shows how Popovich’s player-centric approach can turn unheralded rosters into competitive units.

Jacque Vaughn: From Popovich’s Staff to Two Head Coaching Stints

Jacque Vaughn played for the Spurs under Popovich from 2002 to 2006, winning a championship, then returned as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2012. He took over as head coach of the Orlando Magic in 2012, a rebuilding team, and though the wins didn’t come immediately, he instilled a defensive mindset and developed players like Nikola Vučević. Years later, Vaughn became an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets and eventually took over as interim head coach in 2022. After impressing the front office, he was named permanent head coach. Vaughn led the Nets through a turbulent season, relying on the patience and adaptability he learned from Popovich.

James Borrego: Double Dose of Popovich Influence

James Borrego worked under Popovich twice: first as a video coordinator and assistant from 2003 to 2010, and again after a stint as an assistant in New Orleans from 2012 to 2015. He left to become the associate head coach of the Orlando Magic under Frank Vogel before the Charlotte Hornets hired him as head coach in 2018. In Charlotte, Borrego emphasized ball movement and three-point shooting, improving the team’s offensive rating each season. He also helped develop LaMelo Ball into Rookie of the Year. After being let go in 2022, Borrego became the lead assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans, where he continues to apply Popovich’s principles of spacing and defensive communication.

Common Threads: Popovich’s Principles Across the League

While each former assistant has adapted to his own market and roster, certain themes recur. Popovich’s disciples emphasize defensive fundamentals such as weak-side help and contesting shots without fouling. They run motion offenses that prioritize player movement over isolation scoring. They also practice player empowerment, holding athletes accountable while trusting them to make decisions on the floor. Perhaps most importantly, they maintain a culture of professionalism that treats every person in the organization with respect, from the star player to the equipment manager. These shared values make it easy to spot a Popovich protégé, regardless of which sideline he or she stands on.

Why the Spurs’ Tree Is So Prolific

Many coaching trees sprout a few branches and then wither. Popovich’s has thrived for two main reasons: the structure of the Spurs’ organization and the longevity of his tenure. The Spurs consistently rank as one of the league’s top front offices, and they empower assistant coaches with genuine responsibility. Assistants scout opponents, design game plans, and frequently address the team during timeouts. They also get to run the team’s Summer League and G League operations, gaining head-coaching experience in low-stakes environments.

Moreover, Popovich has been with the Spurs since 1996, providing stability and a consistent educational pipeline. While other coaching trees often splinter after the head coach leaves, Popovich’s foundation has remained intact, allowing assistants to absorb lessons over a decade or more. This combination of structure, trust, and time creates coaches who are ready to step into the spotlight when the opportunity arrives.

Future Branches: The Next Generation

Popovich’s influence shows no sign of waning. Several current Spurs assistants are likely to become head coaches in the near future. Mitch Johnson has served as an assistant since 2019 and took over as acting head coach when Popovich missed games for health reasons in 2024–25. Darius Songaila has worked on the staff since 2023 after a successful playing career in Europe and the NBA. Other candidates, such as Matt Nielsen (assistant coach for player development), also carry the Spurs’ philosophy. Even former players who served brief stints on the bench, like Tim Duncan (assistant from 2019 to 2020), absorbed enough of Popovich’s wisdom to potentially lead a team someday.

Beyond the current roster, the tree continues to spread through former assistants who have become head coaches and now mentor their own staff. For example, Budenholzer’s assistant Taylor Jenkins became head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and won Coach of the Year in 2022. Jenkins never worked directly under Popovich, but Budenholzer instilled the same principles he learned in San Antonio. The coaching tree thus grows exponentially, with each branch spawning new ones.

Conclusion: A Legacy That Transcends Wins and Championships

Gregg Popovich will eventually retire, but his impact on the NBA will persist through the dozens of head coaches, assistants, and executives he has mentored. His coaching tree is not just a list of names—it is a living network of leaders who share a common vision of how basketball should be played and how people should be treated. From Budenholzer’s championship in Milwaukee to Hammon’s historic WNBA titles and the rebuilding projects in Houston, Charlotte, and Brooklyn, the fingerprints of San Antonio are everywhere. As the league evolves, so will the branches of this tree, ensuring that Popovich’s philosophy continues to shape the game for generations to come.

For further reading, see the Basketball-Reference profile of Gregg Popovich and NBA.com’s overview of the Spurs coaching tree.