San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is not just the best in team history, but he is in the debate as the greatest coach in the NBA’s illustrious history. However, Father Time comes for us all, and he is currently in deep discussions with the Spurs legend.
In November, the 76-year-old suffered a mild stroke and has not been on the sidelines since. Earlier this week, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that the coach is not expected to return this season, and his future as a coach is uncertain. All the signs are there for Popovich to finally bring his hall-of-fame career to a close this year.
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Assuming that eventuality comes to pass later this year, let’s take a look at five coaches the San Antonio Spurs could take a hard look at to replace the NBA legend.
Mike Brown
Mike Brown is a proven head coach (454-304 record) with a lot of experience. After two strong seasons — including winning Coach of the Year — in Sacramento, he was surprisingly fired earlier this season. While he may not excite Spurs fans because of his failed tenures in Cleveland and Sacramento, as a former Popovich assistant the legendary head coach could push for him to be his successor.
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Jeff Van Gundy
There have been rumblings for years that Jeff Van Gundy could return to the sideline as a head coach. After being shockingly ousted from his announcer gig at ESPN, the Knicks great has dipped his toe back into the sport. First as an advisor for the Celtics and now as an assistant for the Clippers. The ability to coach Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and possibly Cooper Flag — if the Spurs get enough ping-pong balls in the draft — would certainly appeal to Van Gundy.
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Monty Williams
Monty Williams was seen as one of the great young coaches in the sport after winning Coach of the Year honors with the Suns a few seasons ago. However, after being fired from Phoenix and leading a historically bad Pistons team a year ago his stock has dropped significantly. Nevertheless, he has many fans around the NBA and will certainly be considered by San Antonio.
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Sam Cassell
Fifteen-year NBA veteran Sam Cassell has been viewed as one of the best assistants in the league for years and has had several head coach interviews. However, he has yet to land a job. Sooner or later some team will give him an overdue opportunity. There is a good chance he will be at the top of the Spurs’ wish list. Cassell was tied for first in a recent poll of NBA general managers on the best assistant in the game today.
Adrian Griffin
Adrian Griffin was an assistant for 15 seasons before he landed the head coach gig with the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Unfortunately, a 30-13 record was not good enough for the organization and he was shockingly fired. He is too good of a coach not to get a second look and being a top candidate for the San Antonio Spurs is likely.
Micah Nori
The person tied with Cassell on that aforementioned poll of the best assistants today was Timberwolves coach Micah Nori. He has been an assistant in the league for 16 seasons and with five different teams. Of the various assistants around the game, no more ready and respected coach will be available this offseason than Nori.