Who Is the Spurs Coach Now?
The current Spurs coach is Mitch Johnson, a former Stanford guard and longtime San Antonio assistant who was named the 19th head coach in franchise history after Gregg Popovich stepped down. His promotion marked the official end of one of the longest and most successful coaching tenures in NBA history and the beginning of a new chapter for the Spurs.
Johnson is not an outsider brought in to overhaul the organization, but rather a coach who grew within the Spurs’ system—first in Austin, then alongside Popovich on the NBA bench. That background has allowed him to balance continuity with innovation, carrying forward the team’s core values while modernizing its on-court style.
Mitch Johnson’s Coaching Style and System
As Spurs coach, Johnson emphasizes a relentless, high-energy approach built on defense, pace, and versatility. His teams pressure the ball, rebound collectively, and look to run at every opportunity, with multiple players trusted to handle and push the ball in transition. This creates a constant rhythm of attacking, collapsing defenses, and finding open shooters.
Offensively, Johnson favors read-and-react principles rather than rigid sets, encouraging players to move, cut, and share the ball while taking advantage of mismatches created by spacing and speed. Defensively, he expects physicality and communication, with an emphasis on helping, rotating, and finishing possessions with strong box-outs and rebounds.
Impact on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ Future
Johnson’s partnership with Victor Wembanyama is central to the Spurs’ long-term plan. By designing schemes that leverage Wembanyama’s rim protection, perimeter mobility, and evolving offensive skill set, Johnson has helped accelerate the young star’s growth while keeping the team competitive against top-tier opponents.
Beyond one player, Johnson’s system has reinvigorated the broader roster, empowering young contributors and veterans alike with clearly defined roles and expectations. Early returns suggest that under his leadership, the Spurs are evolving from a rebuilding project into a dangerous, cohesive group capable of re-entering the Western Conference playoff picture and, eventually, contending again at the highest level.