Spurs face nightmare reality they've avoided for nearly 30 years

Coach Gregg Popovich took over the Spurs as the head coach in December of 1996. That's nearly 30 years, knowing who was going to lead the team and how they were going to do it. Pop led with strength and poise. He had his moments with the media, but by all accounts, he was a compassionate man who made everyone feel like family. This will be the first time we head into a season knowing he won't be the leader on the sidelines.

I think that the truth at the heart of much of the uncertainty among many fans and some analysts is the skepticism surrounding the transition from the Popovich era. I even believe that less of it is tied directly to any Mitch Johnson pessimism or doubt. When you have a figure as massive as Coach Pop, he's ingrained in so much of the culture, so it's weird for everyone when they leave.

Thankfully, he's still in the building as the Team President. That helps some. But this is the Johnson Era now. We must trust that they chose the right person to take stewardship of this squad and steer them in the right direction for the foreseeable future.

Johnson could be the best from Coach Pop's tree

Right now, Steve Kerr is at the top of this list. How could he not be after winning four championships in Golden State? But he's not the only tough name Coach Johnson will have to climb over. Pop has the most successful coaching tree in the league, and it's not even close.

Mike Brown, Doc Rivers, Taylor Jenkins, Monty Williams, Mike Budenholzer, and Ime Udoka are all respected in the league, even if they don't all have a job right now. The entire league was baffled when the Memphis Grizzlies fired Jenkins toward the end of the season. That one doesn't even count.

Budenholzer isn't running any team right now after being let go from Phoenix, but you can't take away the two Coach of the Year wins and his NBA championship, finally leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Lew Alcindor.

Mitch Johnson can exceed all of those guys. He was chosen as the right hand of the greatest coach in league history by the man himself. It's not like someone else made him the assistant coach, and he certainly had input in naming Johnson his permanent successor. I think it's actually an insult to El Jefe to insinuate that he'd shortchange the organization, players, and fans by choosing someone who isn't ready.

Mitch should have everyone's confidence. The proof of concept is the success of the Popovich Tree. With Victor Wembanyama as his franchise player, he already has the star he needs as his foundation. A historically great franchise is supporting him, adding talent to the roster to empower him. Immense success is the obvious next step in the progression here, but until we see it, it's a scary position to be in.