On Friday, the San Antonio Spurs announced a significant shift in their leadership, confirming that legendary coach Gregg Popovich will no longer be coaching the team. Instead, he is transitioning into a full-time position as the president of basketball operations for the franchise.
Popovich, at 76 years old, concludes his illustrious coaching career as the NBA`s all-time leader in regular-season victories, with an impressive 1,422 wins. His tenure also included five NBA championships and a record-tying three Coach of the Year awards. Taking over the coaching duties permanently is Mitch Johnson, who had previously served as acting head coach after Popovich experienced a mild stroke in November.
We consulted with our team of NBA insiders to address the key questions surrounding the Spurs and Popovich`s decision, delving into how this change came about, the franchise`s future direction, and what Johnson brings to the role as San Antonio aims to build a contender led by burgeoning superstar Victor Wembanyama, guard De`Aaron Fox, and the recent Rookie of the Year recipient, Stephon Castle.
1. How did the Spurs and Pop come to this decision?
The San Antonio organization was resolute in the belief that Popovich had rightfully earned the privilege to determine the timing of his departure from coaching. Popovich himself maintained that he would only continue coaching if he felt physically capable of handling the demands of the job. He retained a passion for coaching, stating in recent years that working with eager young players brought him energy and invigoration.
However, ultimately, Popovich concluded that shifting into a supportive role was the necessary step, particularly with Johnson, whom he held in high regard and saw as a strong successor.
2. What are people around the league saying about Pop`s move?
Across the league, the reaction is one of relief and clarity. Popovich had genuinely contemplated continuing to coach in the preceding months, which explains why his in-season announcement about not returning didn`t specify his future plans. As NBA royalty, there was natural concern regarding the health of the legendary coach. A recent incident that necessitated a hospital visit heightened those concerns for Popovich`s well-being.
The Spurs have been left in an outstanding position by Popovich. While he won five titles from the sideline, it`s fair to consider one of his greatest achievements leaving the coaching position with a clear, well-planned succession strategy.
“He absorbed numerous losses over the past few years that he wasn`t obligated to; it was a truly unselfish act,” a veteran league executive shared. “The team is poised for success. Unfortunately for him, he won`t be coaching from the sidelines for it, but the next generation of the team clearly bears his influence.”
Beyond accepting the difficult phases of a rebuild during his final years, Popovich was instrumental in cultivating and preserving the franchise`s renowned culture. Many organizations have attempted to replicate it over the years by hiring away members of Popovich`s front office and coaching staff. That strong culture is expected to endure long after his departure from the head coaching role.
Furthermore, he played a key role in preparing his replacement, as Johnson gradually took on more responsibilities during his time on the bench. It wasn`t unusual, even before Johnson was formally named acting head coach, for Popovich to instruct him to strategize late-game plays during huddles. Over the years, several assistants were seen as potential “head coaches in waiting” in San Antonio. This was because Popovich believed in developing assistants much like he did young players – identifying talent and nurturing those he believed had high potential.
Had this coaching job been openly available, which it wasn`t due to the Spurs` characteristically discreet and efficient handling of their affairs, it would have been viewed as one of the most attractive in the league. As soon as news emerged that Popovich was stepping down as coach but remaining president, the league understood that Johnson was the highly likely choice. While keeping things “in the family” can sometimes be problematic in the NBA, in San Antonio, it`s a formula for success.
Popovich has always valued and safeguarded this approach, and the league recognizes that he is passing it on.
3. Who is Mitch Johnson, and why did the Spurs give him the long-term job?
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray has repeatedly shared with ESPN how Johnson significantly impacted his life as a teenager, helping him after bailing him out of jail and guiding him through a rigorous academic and basketball program. This support enabled the now-28-year-old to attend college and eventually reach the NBA. Consequently, when the Spurs began evaluating Murray during the 2016 draft process, Johnson`s coaching and communication skills quickly drew the organization`s attention, leading to his hiring as an assistant with their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
“When he came and got me out of juvenile when I was 15, one thing we said was, `We are in this together,`” Murray recalled to ESPN about Johnson. “It was like, we’re going to put in all this hard work and we’re going to see where the work takes us. So, even when we got into the league, we never knew all these things were going to happen or how things would happen. But it was like, we both put the work in. The rest is going to be history.”
Johnson ascended rapidly within the organization, spending the last six seasons as an assistant under Popovich, including five years positioned at the front of the bench following a promotion in 2020.
Mitch Johnson is the son of former two-time NBA All-Star and 1979 champion John “J.J.” Johnson. Mitch was an accomplished player himself, winning two state championships in high school in Seattle (where he averaged 22 points and eight assists as a senior) and excelling as a four-year starter at Stanford alongside players like Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, and Landry Fields. Brook Lopez told ESPN that during their college years, they nicknamed Johnson “Maestro” for “the way he conducts and runs the show.”
“Seeing him in the position he’s in now is not surprising. He belongs there,” Lopez added. “[He’s] such an intelligent basketball player, with the highest basketball IQ I’ve ever played with or been around.”
Within the Spurs organization, Johnson greatly impressed Popovich, Spurs CEO RC Buford, and GM Brian Wright with his management of a challenging season following Popovich`s stroke and the team`s handling of Wembanyama`s blood clot issue in his shoulder. Johnson`s leadership remained steadfast through adverse circumstances, including extended road trips. He consistently held players accountable, and his messages resonated effectively in the locker room. The dedication and competitive spirit shown by San Antonio`s players under Johnson did not go unnoticed by the franchise`s decision-makers.
“I trust the organization,” Wembanyama stated. “I also trust Mitch to grow into that role. I think we are in good hands supporting each other throughout the organization.”
4. What will the offseason look like in San Antonio?
Resolving the head coaching situation was the Spurs` top priority for the offseason. With that clarity achieved, the focus now shifts to the NBA lottery. San Antonio holds not only their own first-round draft pick but also a first-round selection acquired from Atlanta. (San Antonio has a 6% chance of moving up from the 8th spot to the top pick, while Atlanta`s chance is 0.7%). Regarding the roster, 10 players are currently under contract, headlined by back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
The trade involving De`Aaron Fox still positions San Antonio favorably to pursue another significant player acquisition if a star like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo were to become available this summer. The Spurs hold the right to swap first-round picks with Atlanta next year and possess the Hawks` unprotected first-round pick in 2027. In total, they control six first-round picks over the next eight years, multiple years of pick swaps, and 17 second-round picks. They also have significant contracts belonging to Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Keldon Johnson, which could be used in potential trades.
One date to particularly note on the Spurs` calendar is August 3rd. This marks the first day Fox is eligible to sign a four-year maximum extension potentially worth $229 million. Additionally, keep an eye on Chris Paul`s situation. After signing a one-year deal last offseason and playing all 82 games for only the second time in his career, Paul is set to enter unrestricted free agency.
5. What are the expectations for San Antonio next season?
A reasonable expectation for the San Antonio Spurs next season is reaching the 2026 postseason. Failing to make the playoffs entirely might be considered somewhat disappointing. This past season, the Spurs finished 21-25 in the 46 games Victor Wembanyama played, with only five of those games featuring Wembanyama alongside De`Aaron Fox following San Antonio`s midseason trade for Fox and prior to Wembanyama being sidelined with deep vein thrombosis.
The deliberate pace of Wembanyama`s development over the past year allowed the Spurs to add Stephon Castle with the No. 4 pick last June and secure another high lottery pick this year. However, with the arrival of Fox and the significant collection of future draft picks the Spurs have amassed, now is the opportune moment to begin providing these young players with experience in high-stakes games.
Only Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James were voted All-NBA before reaching the age of 21.5, an achievement Wembanyama was on track for before falling short of the 65-game minimum due to his absence. Notably, all of these comparable players made their playoff debuts by their third seasons in the league, with both Howard and James breaking through in Year 3.
The primary challenge for the Spurs in making the playoffs is the exceptionally strong Western Conference, where no playoff team won fewer than 48 games this season. While there isn`t an obvious contender expected to drop out of the playoff picture, the same sentiment was shared last season, yet the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies still managed to climb into the top eight, while the Pelicans and Phoenix Suns unexpectedly missed out.
As a minimum objective, San Antonio should realistically be able to qualify for the play-in tournament, which they haven`t reached since 2022. The Spurs would have had a legitimate chance at securing the 10th seed this season if Wembanyama had remained healthy. However, the ultimate goal should be to crack the West`s top six teams, a feat San Antonio last accomplished in 2019 – remarkably, the second-longest active playoff drought in the NBA, behind only the lowly Charlotte Hornets.