Gregg Popovich is the GOAT. In addition to his greatness comes the longevity. He’s been around so long and had so many assistant coaches and players through his tenure that many, many of them are now planting their own roots throughout the NBA.

Sport Illustrated made a Coaching Tree of Pop.

Here’s the current version of Gregg Popovich’s coaching tree.

Mitch Johnson- San Antonio Spurs head coach. Started as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs in 2016 before moving to San Antonio as Pop’s assistant in 2019. He then served as interim last season and was named the head coach just after the season ended.

James Borrego- New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach. Borrego was a Spurs assistant from 2003-2010 and then again from 2015-2018 picking up two titles under Pop.

Jim Boylen- Indiana Pacers assistant coach. Served as an assistant with the Spurs from 2013-2015 during the Spurs 2014 “Redemption” title.

Brett Brown- currently in his second tenure as a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, Brown originally worked under Pop from 2003-2013, part of three Spurs championships.

Mike Brown- the newly named New York Knicks head coach, Brown worked under Pop from 2000-2003 picking up a ring with the Spurs. He also coached against Pop in 2007 with the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron’s first trip to the Finals.

Mike Budenholzer- most recently head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Coach Bud was with Pop from 1996-2013 during their first four title runs before making the leap into head coaching. He won a title with Bucks as head coach in 2021.

P.J. Carlisimo- NBA broadcaster. Carlisimo worked with the Spurs from 2002-2007 picking up three rings.

Will Hardy- Utah Jazz head coach. Hardy started out as an intern and worked his way up becoming an assistant coach in 2015. He stayed until 2021 when moving with Ime Udoka to Boston. After one season, the Jazz nabbed him for his first head coaching position.

Taylor Jenkins- Austin Toros 2008-2012 assistant, head coach from 2012-2013. Jenkins went with Mike Budenholzer to Atlanta in 2013. He hired as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019 and fired with nine games left in the 2025 season.

Steve Kerr- Golden State Warriors head coach. Kerr played two stints with the Spurs and won two titles under Pop. Kerr also served as an assistant coach to Pop for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics.

Joe Prunty- Orlando Magic assistant coach. Prunty’s tenure goes back to 1996, his first NBA assistant coaching gig. He was with the Spurs until 2005.

Quin Snyder- Atlanta Hawks head coach – Snyder was the head coach of the Austin Toros from 2007-2010, part of the Spurs D-League system.

Ime Udoka- Houston Rockets head coach. Udoka played under Pop from 2007-2009 and then again from 2010-2011. After retiring, he served as an assistant from 2012-2019.

Jacque Vaughn- Brooklyn Nets head coach, now University of Kansas. Vaugh played under Pop from 2006-2009, picking up a ring in 2007. He then served as an assistant from 2010-2012.

Monty Williams- currently at TMI Episcopal in San Antonio. Williams played under Pop from 1996-1998. In 2005, Williams won an NBA championship as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs. Additionally, Williams joined the Spurs as the vice president of basketball operations in 2016.

Sean Marks- GM Brooklyn Nets. Marks played with the Spurs from 2003-2006 picking up a ring with the Silver & Back in 2003. He picked up a ring as an assistant coach during the 2013-2014 season under Pop.

Becky Hammon- Las Vegas Aces head coach (WNBA). Hammon is the only member of the San Antonio Stars player to have her number retied by the organization. She played from 2007-2014. Immediately upon retirement, Hammon joined Pop on the Spurs sideline until 2021. She then moved on as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces where they’ve won two WNBA titles.

Ettore Messina- Olympia Milano. Messina world with Pop and the Spurs from 2014-2019 before returning overseas. A highly decorated coach, he’s won multiple titles as head coach.

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