Brian Pauga has worked in professional sports for 20 years (16 in the NBA and 4 in college basketball).
As of 2023, Brian is entering his third season working with the Utah Jazz as a Scout, where he assists in all aspects of the scouting process and vetting of potential players for the Utah Jazz roster.
Brian worked for three seasons as the Director of Player Personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016 through 2019 where he oversaw the entire scouting department and all personnel decisions. He helped the Timberwolves qualify for the 2018 NBA playoffs which was the organization’s first playoff birth in 14 years.
Brian spent nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, including most recently with dual roles, acting as Director of Scouting and General Manager of the Austin Spurs. He was promoted to Director of Scouting in 2012, a position he held during the Spurs NBA Finals runs in both 2013 and 2014, culminating in the 2014 NBA Championship. In 2013 Pauga added General Manager of the Austin Spurs to his responsibilities. Under his guidance, Austin won back-to-back division championships in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Brian began his career with the Spurs as Basketball Operations Intern in 2007 before becoming full-time during the summer of 2008 as the Basketball Operations Assistant.
Before joining the Spurs, worked as a student manager with the Michigan State men’s basketball team from 2003-07, including the Spartans’ 2005 Final Four team.