The San Antonio Spurs announced on Friday that Gregg Popovich is stepping down as head coach, moving into a full-time position as president of basketball operations.
Popovich, aged 76, concludes his coaching career holding the record for most regular-season wins in the league (1,422). He also won five championships and shares the NBA record with three Coach of the Year titles. Mitch Johnson, who served as acting head coach following Popovich`s mild stroke in November, will now permanently assume the head coaching role.
We consulted our NBA experts for insights into this decision by the Spurs and Popovich. Key questions included the reasons behind the move, the franchise`s future plans, and how Johnson`s appointment impacts San Antonio`s potential to contend with rising stars like Victor Wembanyama, guard De`Aaron Fox, and recent Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
1. The Decision Explained: Why Popovich Stepped Down
The Spurs organization made it clear that Popovich had the autonomy to choose the timing of his departure. Popovich himself maintained he would only continue coaching if his physical condition allowed. He expressed a continued passion for coaching, particularly enjoying working with young, eager players in recent years. However, he ultimately concluded it was best to transition to a supportive position, especially recognizing Mitch Johnson, whom he held in high regard as his potential successor.
2. League Reaction to Popovich`s Transition
The news has brought a sense of relief and clarity within the league. Popovich had reportedly been considering his coaching future in recent months, which explained the ambiguity in his mid-season announcement about not returning *that* season. Given his status as NBA royalty, concerns about the legendary coach`s health were present, and a recent hospital trip heightened these worries.
Popovich leaves the Spurs organization in a very strong position. Beyond his five championships as coach, arguably one of his most significant achievements is ensuring a smooth and clear succession plan for his role.
A veteran league executive commented, `He endured many losses in recent years that weren`t necessary for him personally; it was a truly selfless act. The team is now poised for success. While he won`t be coaching courtside for it, his influence is clearly evident on this next generation of players and the team`s structure.`
Beyond undertaking the challenging rebuild phase in his final coaching years, Popovich was instrumental in establishing and sustaining a highly respected team culture. Many teams across the league have attempted to replicate this by hiring personnel from Popovich`s front office and coaching staff. This enduring culture is expected to persist well beyond his time as coach.
Furthermore, Popovich played a key role in developing his successor, gradually giving Johnson more responsibilities on the bench. Even before Johnson became acting head coach, it was common for Popovich to have him strategize during crucial late-game huddles. Over the years, several assistants in San Antonio were informally seen as potential future head coaches. This stemmed from Popovich`s philosophy of developing his coaching staff much like he developed young players, identifying talent and nurturing individuals he saw as having high potential.
Had this coaching position been open to external candidates – which it wasn`t, due to the Spurs` discreet and organized process – it would have been considered one of the most desirable roles in the league. Once the news broke about Popovich moving from coaching to the presidency, the league widely anticipated that Johnson would be his successor. While maintaining internal continuity can sometimes present challenges in the NBA, for San Antonio, it appears to be a key to their unique success.
Popovich has always prioritized and guarded this organizational continuity, and the league recognizes that he is now entrusting it to the next generation.
3. Introducing Mitch Johnson: The Spurs` New Head Coach
Dejounte Murray, the New Orleans Pelicans point guard, has previously recounted how Johnson profoundly impacted his life as a teenager, helping him navigate challenges and establishing a rigorous program focused on academics and basketball. This program was crucial in enabling Murray, now 28, to attend college and reach the NBA. Consequently, when the Spurs evaluated Murray during the 2016 draft process, Johnson`s coaching and communication abilities stood out, leading to his initial hiring as an assistant for the team`s G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
Murray shared about Johnson, `When he helped me out when I was 15, we made a promise: “We are in this together.” The idea was that we would dedicate ourselves completely and see where that effort would lead us. Even entering the league, we didn`t foresee how everything would unfold. But the commitment was mutual – we both put in the work, and the rest would follow.`
Johnson rapidly progressed within the organization, spending the last six seasons as an assistant under Popovich, five of which were in a prominent role at the front of the bench following his promotion in 2020.
As the son of John `J.J.` Johnson, a former two-time NBA All-Star and 1979 champion, Mitch Johnson also had a distinguished playing career. He won two state championships in high school at O`Dea High School in Seattle (averaging 22 points and eight assists as a senior) and was a four-year starter at Stanford University, playing alongside players like Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, and Landry Fields. Brook Lopez recalled that in college, Johnson was nicknamed `Maestro` for his ability to `conduct and manage the game.`
Lopez added, `It`s not surprising to see him in this role now; he absolutely belongs there. He`s an incredibly intelligent basketball player, possessing the highest basketball IQ of anyone I`ve played with or encountered.`
Inside the Spurs organization, Johnson earned the respect of Popovich, CEO RC Buford, and GM Brian Wright, particularly for his steady guidance during a challenging season marked by Popovich`s stroke and Wembanyama`s absence due to a shoulder blood clot issue. Johnson demonstrated unwavering leadership through difficult circumstances, including lengthy road trips and unforeseen events like wildfires. He consistently held players accountable.
His communication consistently had an impact in the locker room. San Antonio`s players consistently demonstrated effort and competed for Johnson, which was recognized by the team`s leadership.
Victor Wembanyama stated, `I have confidence in the organization, and I also trust Mitch`s ability to develop in this role. I believe we are in a strong position, supporting one another throughout the team.`
4. San Antonio Spurs Offseason Outlook
Resolving the head coach position was the San Antonio Spurs` immediate priority.
Attention now turns to the draft lottery. The Spurs possess their own first-round pick and another acquired from Atlanta. (San Antonio has a 6% chance of securing the top pick from their spot at No. 8, while Atlanta`s pick carries a 0.7% chance for the first spot.) Regarding the current roster, ten players are under contract, highlighted by consecutive Rookie of the Year winners Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
The acquisition of De`Aaron Fox positions San Antonio to potentially pursue another significant player acquisition should a star like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo become available this offseason. The team holds the right to swap first-round picks with Atlanta next year and owns the Hawks` unprotected first-round pick in 2027. Overall, the Spurs control six first-round picks over the next eight years, along with several pick swap opportunities and 17 second-round picks. Additionally, they have significant contracts belonging to Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Keldon Johnson.
A key date for the Spurs is August 3rd, which is the earliest De`Aaron Fox can sign a maximum four-year, $229 million extension. Chris Paul`s future also warrants attention; after signing a one-year contract last offseason and playing all 82 games for only the second time in his career, he is scheduled to become a free agent.
5. Expectations for the Spurs Next Season
Making the playoffs in the 2026 season appears to be a realistic goal, and missing the postseason could be considered a disappointment. This past season, the Spurs had a 21-25 record in the 46 games Wembanyama participated in. Only five of these games featured both Wembanyama and De`Aaron Fox playing together, following San Antonio`s major midseason trade and Wembanyama`s subsequent absence due to deep vein thrombosis.
The decision to manage Wembanyama`s development carefully facilitated the Spurs acquiring Stephon Castle with the 4th pick last June and securing another lottery pick this year. However, with Fox now on the team and the collection of future draft assets, the focus should shift towards giving these young talents experience in competitive, high-stakes games.
Historically, only Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James have been named All-NBA players before turning 21.5 years old – an achievement Wembanyama was on pace for before his absence caused him to miss the 65-game minimum. Notably, all these players made their playoff debuts by their third NBA seasons, with Howard and James reaching the postseason in their third year.
The primary challenge for the Spurs aiming for the playoffs is the highly competitive Western Conference, where all playoff teams won at least 48 games this past season. While no established playoff team seems certain to drop out, unexpected shifts occurred last season, with teams like the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies making the top eight while the Pelicans and Phoenix Suns unexpectedly fell out.
At the very least, San Antonio should target qualifying for the play-in tournament, which they haven`t done since 2022. A healthy Wembanyama this past season would have given the Spurs a shot at securing the 10th seed. However, the ultimate goal should be a top-six finish in the Western Conference, a feat San Antonio last achieved in 2019. This marks the NBA`s second-longest active playoff drought, trailing only the Charlotte Hornets.
