Gregg Popovich appears to be retiring from coaching, leaving the San Antonio Spurs with enormous shoes to fill on the sidelines.
Pop has already decided to sit out the remainder of the 2024-25 season after suffering a stroke earlier in the season. What matters most here is Pop’s health. The 76-year-old is widely regarded as the best NBA coach of all time based on his impressive history.
Why take a chance on Pop’s health if his return to coaching would have any negative consequences?
With Pop’s future as a head coach uncertain, many are asking what the Spurs will do if the GOAT decides to retire.
On Monday, Zach Harper of The Athletic discussed several potential scenarios for San Antonio in a post-Pop future.
“The Spurs could hire internally with (current acting head coach, Mitch) Johnson or someone else in the organization,” Harper said.
“They could also offer it up to Popovich’s coaching tree. Coaches like Mike Budenholzer, Ime Udoka, Quin Snyder, and Taylor Jenkins have all emerged from Pop’s system.”
“Doc Rivers and Steve Kerr both played for Pop. Former coaches Mike Brown, Brett Brown, and Monty Williams also coached under Popovich.”
“Mike Brown was just sacked by the Sacramento Kings, and Brett Brown is back on the Spurs bench as an assistant. Most of Pop’s coaching branches would have to talk about joining up, whether they tried to find their way to the sidelines or not.”
Given San Antonio’s young squad, it would make sense for the Spurs to appoint a younger Pop successor, someone they could build around for a decade or more. With all due respect, players such as Rivers, Kerr, and Brett Brown should be ruled out.
Udoka is one of the most intriguing names Harper has proposed. After being controversially fired by the Boston Celtics following an NBA Finals run in his first year as head coach, Udoka has rejuvenated the Houston Rockets franchise since taking over in 2023.
Would Udoka leave his position in Houston, where there is also a plethora of young talent, to coach Victor Wembanyama and co.?
Udoka has an extensive history with the Spurs. He played for San Antonio and served as an assistant coach under Pop from 2012 to 2019.
Udoka has quickly established himself as an excellent NBA head coach, particularly when it comes to producing winning results from youthful talents.
The Spurs have Wemby, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox on their roster, as well as a lot of draft money, therefore they have a bigger ceiling than the Rockets as an organization.
If Udoka is hired away from the Rockets, he will almost certainly transform San Antonio into a perennial contender.
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