NBA: Ranking every active head coach by playing career
By Corey Rausch
Every NBA head coach ranked by playing career: 19. James Borrego
We have another Division I player on the list, although his only noted accomplishment at that level was being named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team as a senior. Over two seasons, he appeared in 15 games and racked up a total of 13 points, 17 rebounds, one assist, four steals and two blocks.
In high school, he helped lead his team, Albuquerque Academy, to two state championships. Coaching was rightfully his ultimate passion and he took over as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of San Diego, while he was in grad school. After a few seasons there, he moved on to the NBA and has never looked back.
He started his tenure with the San Antonio Spurs, spending seven seasons under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich. He would make stops with the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant (and interim head coach in Orlando) before coming back to the Spurs. Over the last three seasons, he has been the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, initially bringing Tony Parker along with him to ease the transition. It has taken time but one of the more downtrodden franchises in the league is taking the next step with Borrego at the helm.