The Spurs Way: Gregg Popovich Decided To Marry The Ex-Wife Of His Longtime Friend And Assistant Mike Budenholzer

Andrew D. Bernstein. Getty Images.

(TMZ) - NBA legend Gregg Popovich definitely knows ball, but does he know bro code? The former San Antonio Spurs head coach is remarried … to his assistant coach's ex … TMZ has learned.

According to a marriage license obtained by TMZ … Popovich has tied the knot with Mary Barth Budenholzer, formerly known as Mrs. Mike Budenholzer … who worked very closely with Coach Pop to win 5 NBA Championship rings for the Spurs.

The newlyweds exchanged wedding rings September 16 in Texas … according to the marriage license filed in Bexar County, TX. Mike coached under Gregg (NBA fans just call him Pop) as an assistant for the Spurs for almost 20 years -- from 1996 to 2013 -- before leaving to become head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

We don't know exactly when Mary and Pop started their personal championship run to the altar, but here's what we do know.

Mike and Mary quietly divorced in 2016 … and then in 2018, Pop's first wife, Erin Popovich, died after battling an undisclosed severe illness.

Now here we are in 2026 … Pop and Mary are hitched -- they attended Spurs games together last season -- and Mike's got a new relationship, too.

Gregg Popovich, you dog you! First off, it's great to hear that Pop's health is doing just fine after his stroke back in 2024 and then his stepping away from the Spurs in 2025

Between the nuggets we got during the Spurs playoff run that Pop was still heavily involved and now this news, it sounds like he's moving pretty well for being 77 years old. That rules. 

Now, in terms of this specific move? Listen, who am I to question or deny true love? These are grown-ass adults who can do whatever the hell they want. Coach Bud and his ex-wife split a decade ago, Pop's wife passed nearly a decade ago, sometimes life happens. I don't think it's necessarily uncommon for two people in their position who may have a history together to be drawn to one another in the later stages of life. Is it maybe a little weird that of all the fish in the sea Pop decided to settle down with the ex-wife of his longtime friend and assistant? Sure, but maybe this is just part of the Spurs Culture. In a way, this is really just a 2026 version of the Tony Parker Playbook, and we all know who Tony Parker's coach was during his whole "alleged" (wink wink) fiasco

Thearon W. Henderson. Getty Images.

Admittedly, the optics may not look the best here, but as they say, the heart wants what the heart wants. I get why some may think this is a little grimy or overstepping or messed up etc, but if Coach Bud doesn't give a shit, then why should we? I have to assume he had some sort of knowledge of Pop having a relationship with his ex-wife ahead of them tying the knot, and if he's moved on too, then I imagine he doesn't care. At least I hope that's the case. 

I'll be honest though, of all the sentences out there, that headline is not something I ever expected to read. That's like a Mad Libs story, only it's real life. Classic NBA. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more dramatic league than the NBA, apparently even when it comes to retired coaches. With the new season upon us, perhaps it makes sense that this story would come out now. It's the perfect little appetizer for what should be an epic NBA season. This is basically a preseason rep for all the batshit NBA stories that are headed our way over the next 10+ months, and I for one, cannot wait.

Advertisement

So shoutout to Pop and congrats to the newlyweds. If things go the way many expect this NBA season, this might not be the only ring Pop gets this year. That is of course, if Wemby has finally figured out how to not completely disappear in 4th quarters.