All articles tagged with #mitch johnson
Jalen Brunson scored 45 points as the Knicks rallied to a 94-90 Game 5 victory over the Spurs to win the 2026 title in San Antonio. Before celebrating with his teammates and father, Brunson explained on CBS Mornings that he hugged Spurs coach Mitch Johnson first to show respect, emphasizing that respect is instinctive regardless of the outcome, while noting the Spurs walked off after the buzzer.
Victor Wembanyama respects Gregg Popovich, who remains a central figure for the Spurs even as Mitch Johnson takes over as head coach; Popovich’s leadership helped the team reach the NBA Finals, and his continued influence is guiding the franchise into its new era with Wembanyama.
Mitch Johnson, promoted to Spurs head coach in 2025 after Gregg Popovich’s departure, earned the full trust of Spurs leadership and players for his poised, people-first approach, guiding San Antonio back into title contention with a deep playoff run to the Western Conference finals and earning a West All-Star head-coach honor for 2026, all while Popovich remains a mentor as the franchise builds around young stars like Victor Wembanyama.
The NBA will announce the 2025-26 Coach of the Year during Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, with finalists Mitch Johnson of the Spurs, J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons, and Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics. Johnson led San Antonio to a 62-20 regular season and its first playoff appearance since 2019 as the Spurs face the Thunder in a series tied 2-2; the award decision is set for 7:30 p.m. ET before the game.
San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke on November 2 and is undergoing rehabilitation, with a full recovery expected. However, his return to coaching remains uncertain, leading to speculation that he may have coached his last NBA game at age 75. Mitch Johnson will serve as interim head coach until at least the new year. Medical experts suggest that a return to coaching could be challenging due to the stress involved, although the specifics of Popovich's condition have not been fully disclosed.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is out indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue, with assistant Mitch Johnson stepping in as interim head coach. Popovich, 75, missed the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which the Spurs won 113-103. Johnson received praise for his performance, particularly from veteran player Chris Paul. Popovich, the longest-tenured NBA head coach, has led the Spurs to five NBA titles and holds the record for most career wins.