The San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of a transformation. With a roster built around youth and upside, and the transition of Gregg Popovich from head coach to President of Basketball Operations, the franchise is entering a new era while still carrying the DNA of its championship past. Popovich’s leadership style—defined by both discipline and a surprising dose of humor—continues to influence the organization at every level.
Two players with first-hand experience of that culture—current Spur Malaki Branham and former Spur Tre Jones—recently offered insights into their time under Popovich’s guidance. Their reflections, both light-hearted and deeply respectful, paint a picture of a legendary figure who knew how to challenge his players, laugh with them, and ultimately leave a lasting imprint.
Branham’s Basketball Awakening: The 2013 NBA Finals
Before he was a Spur, before he stepped foot on an NBA court, Malaki Branham was just a kid watching the game on TV like so many others. And for him, one particular Finals series stood out—not just for its drama, but for what it revealed about the kind of basketball culture that Gregg Popovich had built in San Antonio.
“I’d probably say the Spurs/Heat series in 2013,” Branham said, reflecting on his earliest memory of the team. “I feel that… that was one of the GREATEST NBA Finals series that I’ve ever seen. So that was probably my youngest time watching the Spurs.”
For many fans, the 2013 Finals are unforgettable. It featured everything: legendary performances, heartbreaking moments, and a clash of philosophies between the star-powered Heat and the methodical, team-first Spurs. It was basketball at its most beautiful and brutal—and for Branham, it served as a formative moment. Years later, to find himself wearing the same jersey and learning from the same man who led that team has brought things full circle. That Finals series wasn’t just a spectacle; it was a glimpse into the standard he would one day be expected to uphold.
Pop’s Hidden Humor: The Locker Room Jokester
Publicly, Popovich has often been seen as a stern figure—short with the media, hyper-focused on fundamentals, and never one to sugarcoat. But players who spend time behind the scenes quickly realize there’s a different side to the man in charge. Branham, now one of the young cornerstones of the Spurs’ rebuild, says the locker room version of Pop is much more complex.
“Yes I did,” laughed Branham, when asked if he noticed Popovich’s sharp, dry humor in interviews. “You know, a lot of guys say that he doesn’t joke but, he’s definitely a jokester and it’s definitely good to have that in the locker room. But also he’s VERY serious too.”
That blend of humor and seriousness is what makes Popovich such a unique leader. His jokes break the ice and build trust, but the seriousness anchors everything in a sense of purpose. For young players adjusting to the rigors of the NBA, that balance can be a lifeline. Pop doesn’t joke for the sake of it—his wit is part of his ability to connect, to make lessons stick, and to remind his players that while the game should be taken seriously, it should never stop being fun.
Tre Jones: Lessons from the Sidelines—and the Dance Floor
Tre Jones, now playing for the Chicago Bulls, spent his formative professional years in San Antonio. He arrived with a defensive mindset, high basketball IQ, and a willingness to learn. In Popovich, he found a coach who could sharpen his game and, unexpectedly, share a few laughs along the way—including some that came from Pop’s surprising moves on the sidelines.
“We don’t try to teach him anything necessarily; I think that he has his own dance moves or whatever,” laughed Jones while recalling light-hearted moments. “He does his thing out there and we do our own thing but, Coach still got some moves and I’m sure they’re not necessarily the new age moves but they’re DEFINITELY moves.”
It’s a small detail, but one that says a lot about the environment Popovich cultivated. His willingness to participate in the playful culture of the team—even if his dance moves were more “dad wedding” than TikTok-ready—signaled that he was willing to meet players halfway. It broke down barriers and reinforced the idea that leadership isn’t just about drawing up plays—it’s about building relationships.
Jones may now wear a different uniform, but the things he took from his time under Popovich clearly endure. It’s not just what Pop taught on the court, but how he modeled composure, flexibility, and respect that stuck with Jones and so many others.
Pop’s Legacy Now Leads from the Top
Though Gregg Popovich is no longer pacing the sidelines in his trademark blazer, his influence is as strong as ever in San Antonio. As President of Basketball Operations, Pop continues to guide the franchise from above—steering personnel decisions, supporting the coaching staff, and helping shape the next generation of Spurs basketball.
And yet, the stories from Branham and Jones reveal that his real legacy isn’t just in trophies or tactics. It’s in the people he’s helped mold—players who now carry forward his values of discipline, joy, and constant growth.
“Coach still got some moves…,”Jones said.
“He’s definitely a jokester…,” Branham echoed.
These aren’t just offhand comments—they’re proof of the enduring presence of a coach who, even from the front office, still knows how to lead with both fire and laughter.
Gregg Popovich may no longer be drawing up plays on the whiteboard, but the culture he built—the combination of intensity, intelligence, and personality—continues to shape the Spurs from the foundation up. For players like Branham and Jones, the lessons he left them with are permanent—and so, too, is the impact of one of the game’s most unforgettable leaders.
