5. Ime Udoka
Strictly from a basketball perspective, Udoka might be the best fit for this job. He knows the Spurs, and he knows them well. He suited up for San Antonio for three seasons during his playing career, rejoined the organization as an assistant from 2012 to 2019, and eventually became head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2021.
Udoka turned the Celtics into a defensive force during their run to the NBA Finals last season. And with versatile wings like Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan as building blocks for the future, Udoka could have all the tools he needs to turn the Spurs around.
Of course, the Spurs have set a longstanding precedent of being an upstanding franchise. Boston moved on from Udoka for off-court misconduct this season, which would make it intriguing to see how they approach this issue should Popovich call it quits.