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Who is Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson while Gregg Popovich is out?

Posted on by Vanessa
Who is Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson while Gregg Popovich is out?

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San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson will assume interim coaching duties indefinitely as coach Gregg Popovich recovers from an undisclosed health issue suffered prior to a 113-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

“He’s not feeling good,” Johnson said of Popovich before the Timberwolves game. “This has happened before. I think everyone just has to always be prepared for the next guy. We deal with injuries and sometimes people get sick or don't feel well or things happen in life. He's just not feeling it.” So.”

Johnson will serve as interim for at least the next two games.

Here's everything you need to know about Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson:

Who is Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson?

Mitch Johnson, 39, has served under Popovich since 2019, when he joined the Spurs' staff as an assistant, and is considered one of the NBA's best young assistant coaches.

This is the third time Johnson has stepped in as San Antonio's interim coach. The first came in May 2021, when Popovich attended former Spurs star Tim Duncan's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Johnson and San Antonio lost that game 140-103. The second time was in March 2023, when Popovich missed a game due to a non-COVID-19 illness; Johnson earned his first career coaching victory, 110-99, over the Pacers. Popovich returned the following play.

Johnson had previously been with the organization's G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs; From 2016 to 2019, he was an assistant to coaches Ken McDonald and Blake Ahearn.

Johnson played four seasons of DI basketball at Stanford from 2005 to 2009, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 assists and 3 rebounds per game. Johnson helped lead the Cardinal to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2008. After his college playing career, Johnson had a brief stint in the G League with the Tulsa 66ers.

Johnson is the son of former two-time NBA All-Star John Johnson.

How long will Gregg Popovich be out for the Spurs?

That remains unclear. The Spurs said Popovich will be out for at least San Antonio's two-game road trip, which begins Monday with a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers and ends Wednesday at the Houston Rockets.

Popovich, 75, missed Saturday's game against the Timberwolves because of an undisclosed illness. ESPN reported that Popovich had health issues before the game.

Popovich is the NBA's all-time winningest coach with 1,391 wins. He has also won five NBA Finals.

What does Mitch Johnson have to do as Spurs interim coach?

Essentially, Johnson will look to maintain the system and culture that Popovich built over his nearly three decades as Spurs coach. At 3-3, Spurs remain a young squad with phenom Victor Wembanyama at its heart. In his second season, Wembanyama is averaging 18 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3 blocks per game. Wembanyama development comes first.

Experienced point guard Chris Paul has brought stability and depth to the position, and forwards Jeremy Sochan (21) and Keldon Johnson (25) have become bright spots on the roster.

What did the Spurs say about Mitch Johnson?

After San Antonio's win over Minnesota, Paul praised the job Johnson did as interim coach.

“Mitch did a great job, man,” Paul said. “I think our entire coaching staff did that. Things are always happening in this league, and just like with players, it's the next man up. So kudos to Mitch; He did a great job tonight.”

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