In the past, the seats next to Popovich have doubled as catapults. Assistants such as Mike Budenholzer, Brett Brown, James Borrego and Jacque Vaughn sat there before becoming head coaches of their own teams. After Hammon moved to the front of the bench, she reportedly received interviews with at least three NBA teams (the Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic), but in two cases the jobs went to men who had previous ties to the men with hiring power. Nate Bjorkgren knew fellow Iowan Chad Buchanan, the Pacers’ general manager, but lasted only a season before being fired. And first-year Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups enjoyed a close relationship with Neil Olshey, who brought him in but was recently dumped as GM.