Mitch Johnson's toughest coaching challenge is only just beginning

In Mitch Johnson's first year as the official head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, he had quite a season. Leading a team so incredibly young to 62 wins, reaching an NBA Finals appearance, and finishing as a top-three Coach of the Year candidate is a pretty monstrous start. But it's only going to get harder from here.

Last season, Mitch had the pressure of taking over for the legendary former coach Gregg Popovich, but the team had little to no expectations. Fresh off that aforementioned finals run, the stakes will be maxed out from the start. That's a new kind of weight.

Mitch Johnson has exceeded every reasonable expectation so far

Taking over for Pop is no small feat, and Coach Johnson has done so admirably. He's one of the youngest coaches in the NBA, leading one of the youngest cores. Two of his three primary ball handlers were first and second-year players.

De'Aaron Fox may have been added in the previous season, but he didn't play long before he was ruled out for the year, so the newly acquired franchise guard could get his injured hand surgically repaired.

So, between Swipa, Luke Kornet, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant, Mitch integrated new pieces and guided his new unit just about as far as they could go without actually winning the title. All we were trying to see was whether he could lead an NBA team, and he answered emphatically.

Next season will be about managing new expectations, pressure, and keeping players focused on the mission.

Contenders are judged by a completely different standard

Every rotation, timeout, lineup decision, and playoff adjustment will be overly scrutinized. Not only is he coaching one of the most popular superstars in the league, but the team has also shown that they're talented enough to reach the mountaintop. Everyone will demand they do so again and again.

We've already seen the amount of attention Victor Wembanyama's presence commands. Now that he looks to be a perennial contender, that will only increase. That means more questions from media members, especially during nationally televised games, more pressure from fans, and more internal pressure.

That last part can't be discounted.

Each player and coach will have to constantly rise to meet the standards they've set for themselves. Failing to do so not only brings negative attention from the outside; it can weigh on competitors internally. It's Coach Johnson's responsibility to manage all of it.

Taking over for Gregg Popovich was always going to be difficult. There's no way around that. However, sustaining championship expectations may be even harder. That's Mitch's reality now, but it's a challenge every great coach must embrace.

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