All the coaches of the Taoli Tianxia League have direct/indirect teacher-led relationship with Popovich

Ten years ago, when several NBA coaches praised Greg Popovich for being happy to welcome new members to the coaching circle, Frank Vogel called the San Antonio Spurs coach the "godfather" of the league.

In 2025, this statement is still true. Popovich's influence is spread throughout almost every corner of the NBA.

At the time, when Brad Stevens accepted the Boston Celtics coaching position, Popovich called him to provide some advice, and the two formed a close relationship due to their shared love for coaching.

Now, the coaching circle is even more closely connected with Popovich. Most coaches have already become familiar with him before they officially become head coaches, and even those who have never met him must have intersections with the Bobo assistant coach. In fact, all current head coaches in the league today can connect with Popovich through a teacher-admission relationship of no more than three levels. (Please allow readers to take a moment to build this coaching line in their minds before we put this correlation map on paper.)

Last Friday, Popovich resigned from his position as head coach of the Spurs and transferred to the position of team president. In early November last year, he was in a state of indefinite rest after suffering a stroke. Mickey Johnson, who has been deeply involved in the Spurs system for the past decade, first served as interim head coach and was appointed as the official head coach on Friday according to the latest reports.

The current NBA has five head coaches - Will Hardy, Cole, Rivers, Snyder and Uduka - who have played directly for and/or coached under his rank. Mike Brown, Mike Budenholzer and Taylor Jenkins, who were fired this season, have also worked for Popovich in the Spurs system.

There are two other coaches - Spoelstra and Jamal Mosley - who served as assistant coach in some capacity during his four years as head coach of the U.S. basketball team. Therefore, one-third of the coaches in the league have a direct teacher-led relationship with Popovich.

The other 14 coaches - Kenny Atkinson, JB Bickstaff, Chauncey Billups, Rick Carlisle, Doug Christie, Willie Green, Thomas Isalo, Brian Keefe, Charles Lee, Tyron Lu, Joe Mazura, Dako Rayakovic, J.J. Redick and Tom Thibodeau - either played for Popovich's disciples or studied under him for his re-transfer of his disciples.

When Billy Donovan and Kidd were in charge of coaching, they both recruited the Bobo assistant coach to the coaching team. Dagnott has also coached the Oklahoma City Thunder with Donovan and Monty Williams.

The remaining four coaches - David Adelman, Jody Fernandez, Chris Finch and Nick Nass - need three levels of teacher-led relationships to trace the origin to Popovich. These four have all assisted the "second-generation disciples of the Bobo system". This coaching tree is already lush with branches and leaves, covering every corner of the league (the Phoenix Suns has not yet entered the game, but who dares to assert that the next coach's teaching map will not appear in the wave-like veins?).

Nas's relationship chain is the most tortuous. His first coaching contract in his career came from the disbanded American Basketball League team Oklahoma Storm. At that time coach Brian Gates was Monty Williams' long-term assistant coach, and Williams himself has both the status of Bobo's disciple and assistant coach.

The most subtle relationship is Bickstaff and Carlisle. Bickstaff played for Oregon State University when he was a team assistant coach, who later became a member of Popovich's coaching staff. Coincidentally, Carlisle served as an assistant coach for PJ Carlesimo in his early years, and Carlesimo also served under Bobo in the future.

It is interesting to note that the actual relationship between Bickstaff and Carlisle is far beyond that of the relationship on paper. Bickstaff attended Popovich’s basketball camp as a kid because his father, Bernie, a longtime NBA coach and coaching as two Popovich assistants, was a close friend of the San Antonio legend.

Similarly, when Carlisle missed the NBA coach for the first time in 2000, Popovich took the initiative to invite him to participate in the Spurs training camp, thus starting another master-apprentice heritage.

"He actually doesn't need me to go there," Carlisle admitted through "Basketball Insider", "he did this because he was a person who was willing to give. He understood at the time that this matter would give me spiritual strength - and it was true. All the coaches in the league who had known him for many years looked up to this mentor in an extremely special way."

Whether admitted or not, Popovich's tactical philosophy has long penetrated the coaching genes of every coach. This true godfather is still writing his legend.

The relationship between current NBA head coach and Popovich

direct teacher

Steve Cole (Warriors): used to play for Popovich

Doug Rivers (Bucks): used to play for Popovich

Ime Uduka(Rockets): used to play for Popovich

Will Hardy(Jazz): used to play for Popovich

Mickey Johnson (Spurs): served as assistant coach to Popovich (Austin Spurs)

Quinn Snyder (Hawks): served as head coach of Austin Spurs

Eric Spoelstra (Heat): served as assistant coach during Popovich as head coach of the U.S. basketball team

Jamal Mosley (Magics): served as assistant coach during Popovich as head coach of the U.S. basketball team

indirect teacher

Kenny Atkinson (Cavs): formerly assistant coach of Mike Brown (Popovich assistant coach)

Rick Carlisle (Pacers): formerly assistant coach of PJ Carlesimo (Popovich assistant coach)

Doug Christie (Kings): formerly assistant coach of Mike Brown (Popovich assistant coach)

Willie Green (Pelicans ): He served as assistant coach to Monty Williams (Popovich assistant coach)

Thomas Isalo (Grizzlies): He served as assistant coach to Taylor Jenkins (Popovich assistant coach)

Brian Keefe (Wizards): He served as assistant coach to Jacques Vaughn (Popovich assistant coach)

Charles Lee (Hornets): He served as assistant coach to Mike Budenholzer (Popovich assistant coach)

Tyron Lu (Clippers): former assistant coach of Doug Rivers (formerly played for Popovich)

Jo Mazura (Celtics): former assistant coach of Ime Uduka (formerly played for Popovich)

Dako Rajakovic (Raptors): former assistant coach of Monty Williams (Popovich)

Tom Thibodeau (Knicks): formerly served as Doug Rivers ( Assistant coach for Popovich

Chauncey Billups (Trail Blazers): Formerly played for Vinny Del Negro (Telephone for Popovich)

Proportion-Donovan (Bulls): Formerly hired Monty Williams (Popovich assistant coach) as assistant coach

JJ Redick (Lakers): Formerly played for Brett Brown (Popovich assistant coach)

Kidd (Mavericks): Formerly hired Joe -Prenti (Popovich assistant coach) serves as assistant coach

JB Bickstaff (Pistons): He played for Chad Fosil (Popovich assistant coach)

Indirect indirect teacher

David Adelman (Nuggets): He served as assistant coach of Michael Malone (Mike Brown, Mike Brown is Popovich assistant coach)

Jody Fernandez (Basketball Net Team): He served as assistant coach for Michael Malone (Mike Brown assistant coach, Mike Brown is Popovich assistant coach)

Chris Finch (Timberwolves): He served as assistant coach for Michael Malone (Mike Brown assistant coach, Mike Brown is Popovich assistant coach)

Nick Nurs (76ers): He served as assistant coach for Brian Gates (Monty Williams assistant coach, Monty Williams is Popovich assistant coach)