Mitch Johnson is Spurs’ latest example of being miles ahead of the curve

The San Antonio Spurs have made a habit out of being ahead of the curve. They backed Tim Duncan as the franchise player when David Robinson was still an All-Star, were at the forefront of the European movement in the NBA, and emphasized ball movement, shooting, and internal development at a time when isolation basketball and star power were a league-wide obsession.

The latest example of San Antonio being far ahead of the curve is one that doesn't get enough attention: It's handling of the transition to a new head coach.

Gregg Popovich spent 29 seasons as head coach of the Spurs, amassing a legacy unlike any other. As such, when the time came for the baton to be passed, many pondered who the best candidates were on the coaching market.

San Antonio scoffed at the idea that they'd need to look externally, however, and instead promoted assistant coach and 2024-25 interim head coach Mitch Johnson.

Johnson is only 39, but he's already in his 10th year as a coach with the Spurs. He spent the first three in the G League with the Austin Spurs, and was then either an assistant coach or interim head coach for each of the next six in San Antonio.

Nine years into his tenure, the Spurs knew exactly who they wanted to take on the monumental task of succeeding the greatest coach in franchise history. It was a shockingly rare development.

While others look externally, Spurs searched within for new head coach

The New York Knicks are a shining example of a team that had a relatively well-tenured head coach, yet no definitive plan in place for when they were fired. Mike Brown has done an excellent job during his first season at the helm, but his hiring was an example of a long and puzzling trend.

When NBA teams part ways with their head coach, it seems as though they don't have a strong idea of who or what it is they want next.

That ultimately puts franchises at the mercy of the coaching carousel and which individuals are actually available. Many times, that results in teams hiring head coaches who were only recently fired from their previous position and may not have enough separation to move forward with a clear head.

In those moments, a potentially great head coach becomes the right candidate at the wrong time—with Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel in Phoenix being shining examples.

Spurs' renowned internal development includes its coaching staff

Clearly, the Spurs' situation was different, as Popovich unexpectedly stepped down in 2024-25. What San Antonio chose to do, however, was empower a long-time assistant coach to prove he didn't need an interim tag attached to his name.

Rather than being at the mercy of the market for available coaches, the Spurs had a developed talent waiting in the wings to take on this unrivaled task. At 33-16, it's safe to say the approach is paying off.

On a recent episode of the ALL NBA Podcast, Tim Legler offered his two cents on how it is that Johnson has not only led San Antonio to its success, but created the identity of the team.

“They're smart. They're a reflection of their coach. Mitch Johnson is a really smart guy. When you sit down and talk with him, you’re so impressed with his approach, his communication. He’s got total command of the team.”

It's perhaps the greatest example of how well-run of an organization San Antonio truly is. It's not just that they draft well and develop talent, but that they foster an environment that promotes growth and progression amongst players and coaches alike.

Fast forward 25 years and this will likely be yet another trend the Spurs were miles ahead of as the rest of the NBA simply hopes to catch up.