The 3 coaches who could replace Gregg Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs

The 2024-25 NBA season for the San Antonio Spurs was supposed to be a significant step forward from the previous one. Victor Wembanyama would be in his second year, and Chris Paul was brought in to provide veteran leadership and assist the young French superstar in his development. In short, they were expected to win more.

However, things took a tragic turn when 5-time championship-winning coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke early in the season. With Coach Pop out for the rest of the season, it's fair to consider the future head coaching position if he decides to step away from the game. San Antonio has not indicated this to be the case. Yet, given Pop's age and recent health issues, it's a viable possibility. So, under that light, there are some coaching candidates the Spurs could look to if needed for the upcoming season.

Not only did Popovich's health emergency significantly overshadow the Spurs' season, but now Wembanyama is out for the year due to a blood clot in his shoulder. This came shortly after the team made a big trade for former Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. The Spurs managed the trade without giving up some of their young future talents, like rookie Stephon Castle.

Mitch Johnson has been with the Spurs under Popovich's guidance since 2019. He stepped up to serve as the team's interim head coach and will now handle those responsibilities for the remainder of the season. Given his long tenure and familiarity with the team, his learning under Popovich, and his commendable work as an assistant, Johnson tops the list of potential names San Antonio could turn to if Popovich retires.

Mitch Johnson

Despite the Spurs' position in the Western Conference standings, Johnson has done an admirable job in the short time he has coached the team. The organization has likely viewed him as Popovich's successor for several seasons. There was a time when Becky Hammon was thought to be the one to take over once Popovich retired. However, that never materialized as Hammon left the Spurs to assume the role of head coach of the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA. It was a move that has worked out for Hammon, with a couple of championships under her belt. Johnson's rise was sudden, but his reputation among the players has grown positively in a short time. He has a good relationship with Castle, Devin Vassell, and Wemby, and now he has the chance to grow with Fox. If Popovich steps down, Johnson is the first name to consider.

Sam Cassell

Sam Cassell should have been named an NBA head coach by now. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, that's not the case. Cassell has been coaching for a decade, but in a former life, he won three championships. His credibility and resume are there, and his extensive experience as an assistant coach only adds reasons why San Antonio might look to him. He has long been considered one of the best assistant coaches in the league, if not the best. It's time he's offered a head coaching position, and the Spurs could be a good fit.

Becky Hammon

If Hammon were to return to San Antonio, the circle would be complete. Once again, she was considered the potential successor to Popovich, but the WNBA called her. Hammon is an excellent coach and was highly respected among the Spurs players when she was there. She spent eight years in San Antonio, so the familiarity is there, as is the organization's respect. Her time in Las Vegas has shown that she knows how to manage a locker room, in addition to being a winner. Plus, she learned from Pop, and there's no better person to learn coaching from. Hammon would be a historic choice. She would become the first female head coach to lead an NBA team. But it goes beyond that: she has earned it.

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