Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has stepped in and filled Gregg Popovich’s shoes perfectly. Popovich held the head coaching position in San Antonio for 29 years, winning five championships before officially stepping down at the end of last season. Johnson went 31-45 in 2024-25 season while the legendary coach recovered from a stroke.
The Stanford alum was given the first head coaching job of his career this season, and has done an outstanding job. Johnson led his team to its first 60-win season in nine years and an NBA Finals appearance. He now has San Antonio poised for their first championship without Popovich as head coach.
What Mitch Johnson Had To Work With
The nucleus of the Spurs’ success has been its superstar, Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman was named Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Star, and an All-NBA First Team member this season. At just 22 years old, he is the face of this franchise and the future of the NBA.
Wembanyama didn’t do it by himself, though. Young cornerstones Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle have matured quickly and become the ideal support system that he needs. Both play stingy defense on the perimeter and have the ability to make the big-time shot from anywhere on the floor. Despite being 20 and 21 years old, respectively, the guards have played like veterans throughout the playoffs.
Alongside the youngsters, De’Aaron Fox has finally experienced winning in his first full season as a Spur. After seven years in Sacramento, Fox made it past the first round for the first time in his career. Julian Champagnie has had the best season of his career, including a 20-point Game 7 performance against the Thunder.
What Mitch Johnson Has Done
The lineup has always been talented, but Johnson put them where they needed to be in order to succeed. Wembanyama and Castle were staples in the starting lineup alongside Fox, Champagnie, and Devin Vassell. This allowed a perimeter-focused offense with Wembanyama surrounded by sharpshooters. Harper and 6th Man of the Year Keldon Johnson excelled off the bench, consistently providing a spark on both sides of the ball.
Johnson showed off his basketball IQ during the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. Early in the series, San Antonio often brought help on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forced his supporting cast to beat them. When Alex Caruso and Jared McCain proved they could, Johnson went back to a more straight-up approach. The Thunder struggled to pivot offensively, including a season-low 13-point quarter in Game 6.
For Game 7, the Spurs’ defense exhausted Gilgeous-Alexander and forced someone else to beat them. Nobody answered the call as All-Star Chet Holmgren had four points and Caruso shot 3-for-12 from the field. Gilgeous-Alexander posted a -7 plus/minus in the elimination game.
Popovich was famous for enforcing unselfish and fundamental play and Johnson replicated that better than anyone could. San Antonio limited the league’s most dangerous offense while relying on their depth and young cornerstones en route to a Finals appearance. In his first year as head coach, Johnson has allowed each of his young players to tap into their potential despite their inexperience.
Thanks to Johnson and his inner Popovich, the Spurs are a lethal threat to the league now, and in the future.
