Celtics hire Ime Udoka becomes latest branch of Gregg Popovich coaching tree

When the Celtics hired Ime Udoka to be their 18th head coach in franchise history, they also added a another branch to the Gregg Popovich coaching tree. Udoka was an assistant coach on Popovich’s Spurs staff from 2012-2019, including the team’s 2014 title run. He also played for Popovich in San Antonio from 2007-2009.

Udoka has managed to stand out among Popvich’s many assistants. The five-time NBA Champion and three-time Coach of the Year has raved about the Celtics’ new coach in the past. “He exudes a confidence and a comfort in his own skin where people just gravitate to him,” Popovich told ESPN in 2015. “He’s a fundamentally sound teacher because he’s comfortable with himself, he knows the material and players read it. Often times, I’ll say, ‘Ime, can you go talk to so-and-so? Go talk to Patty Mills, go talk to Timmy, go talk to Kawhi.’ And he’ll do it better than I would do it — and I’m not blowing smoke.”

Upon joining the Celtics, Udoka becomes the seventh former Popovich assistant to become a full-time head coach, and the third currently active in the league. Projecting his success based on Popovich’s previous proteges isn’t easy – Popovich has been a head coach since 1996 and such an expansive network is bound to deliver mixed results.

Who have been the most successful coaches to work under Popovich? The least? Let’s take a look at some notable names who served as assistant coaches under Popovich, become becoming head coaches elsewhere.

• James Borrego (Charlotte Hornets, 2018-present)

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  James Borrego had two stints working for Popovich, from 2003-2010 and 2015-2018. After the 2018 season he finally got his break when he was hired by the Charlotte Hornets - making him the first latio head coach in NBA history. In his first three years with the Hornets, the team has posted a 72-105 record, and has yet to make the playoffs.

• Brett Brown (Philadelphia 76ers, 2013-2020)

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  After spending time coaching in Australia, Brett Brown was hired by Popovich as an assistant in 2007. He stayed in San Antonio until 2013, when he became head coach of the Sixers. Brown’s tenure in Philly came during the heart of The Process era. It took five seasons for him to reach the playoffs for the first time, where he’d get bounced in the second round twice and the first round once. He was let go after the 2020 season, with a career record of 221-344.

• Mike Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers 2005-2010, 2013-2014, Los Angeles Lakers, 2011-2012)

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  Mike Brown was only with the Spurs from 2000-2003, but has one of the longest head coaching tenures on this list. Working with LeBron James early in his career, he reached the postseason in his six first seasons as a head coach, including a Finals appearance in 2007. However, he’s only been back once since. He has a career record of 347-216.
• Jim Boylen (Chicago Bulls, 2018-2020)

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  Jim Boylen bounced around the league as an assistant coach, including a stop in San Antonio from 2013-2015. He’d then go on to be the ‘associate head coach’ of the Bulls for two years, before becoming the actual head coach in 2018. After two sub-.500 seasons, he was let go with a 39-84 record.

• Mike Budenholzer (Atlanta Hawks 2013-2018, Milwaukee Bucks, 2018-present)

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  One of Popovich’s longest-tenured assistants, Mike Budenholzer was with him from day one in 1996 until he was hired by the Hawks in 2013. Between his first and second seasons in Atlanta, the Hawks went from a 38-win team to a 60-win team. They’d reach the conference finals that season, but progressively lost more and more games until Budenholzer left following the 2017-2018 season. In three years in Milwaukee he’s reached the conference finals twice, including this year. His all-time coaching record is 375-262.

• Joe Prutny (Milwaukee Bucks, 2018)

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  Another long-time Popovich assistant who was with the Spurs from 1996-2005, Joe Prutney was named interim coach of the Bucks late in the 2017-2018 season. Following his appointment, the team turned things around enough to reach the playoffs, but despite a breakout year for Giannis Antetokuunmpo they would lose to the Celtics in the first round in seven games. He was replaced by Mike Budenholzer that summer despite a 21-16 regular season record.
• Jacque Vaughn (Orlando Magic, 2012-2015, Brooklyn Nets, 2020)

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  Like Udoka, Jacque Vaughn both played for and coached under Popovich, from 2006-2009 and 2010-2012 respectively. He was quickly hired by the Orlando Magic but produced disappointing results, failing to win more than 23 games in a season before being let go 52 games into his third year. Following his departure he joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant, and was briefly their interim coach during the bubble last year. In total, his career record is 65-161.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg of Popovich’s coaching tree. He’s had former players find success as head coaches, such as Monty Williams and Steve Kerr. Even some of his G League coaches are now NBA head coaches, including Quin Snyder and Taylor Jenkins. Some of his assistants have gone on front office roles instead of moving up the coaching ranks, such as Sean Marks. His tree isn’t done growing either. Becky Hammon is expected to be hired as an NBA coach as soon as this offseason, which would make her the first female head coach in NBA history.

Where will Udoka end up ranking on the Popovich tree? Unlike many of the other names on this list, who were tasked with jumpstarting rebuilds, the 43-year-old inherits a team that is ready to win, and a franchise seemingly ready to be aggressive in making that happen.

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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.