Michael C. Wright, ESPN Workers WriterNov 5, 2024, 04:07 PM ET
Shut
Joined ESPN in 2010
Beforehand lined Bears for ESPN.com
Performed faculty soccer at West Texas A&M
San Antonio Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson offered an announcement earlier than addressing the media Monday at Intuit Dome that highlighted Gregg Popovich’s “impact on our organization” on the heels of what the workforce introduced can be an indefinite absence after struggling a well being situation Saturday on the Frost Financial institution Heart.
“He’ll be OK, and we can’t wait to have him back,” Johnson stated.
However the Spurs enter uncharted waters, as Popovich’s absences towards the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers match essentially the most consecutive video games (two) he has missed throughout the common season. San Antonio faces the Houston Rockets on Wednesday and Popovich received’t be with the workforce.
When the coach sits out towards Houston, it could tie his most consecutive absences within the common season or the playoffs.
Johnson, 39, will stay coach of the Spurs as Popovich continues to get well, sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania, however because the workforce works behind the scenes to evaluate the well being of its coach, the long run stays unclear, with no different contingency plan in place.
Right here’s the newest on an evolving scenario in San Antonio:
What’s the replace on Gregg Popovich’s standing?
The workforce isn’t offering official updates, together with any timeline on his return, out of respect for the coach and his privateness. The extent of the coach’s well being situation isn’t totally identified, however sources advised ESPN that Popovich is at house and resting.
Johnson spoke to Popovich on Sunday and stated, “he’s in good spirits.”
“Obviously, the circumstances are unique,” Johnson stated of his dialog with Popovich. “But as much continuity and familiarity we can have I think is what we’re looking for. That’s what we know Pop would want. He said he wants us to do it. We have talked and nothing changes.”
Popovich hasn’t talked to any of San Antonio’s gamers, in accordance with level guard Chris Paul.
“I haven’t, and don’t think any of the guys on the team have,” Paul stated. “Obviously, we wanted to. We’re trying to give him space, and trying to make sure we can control what we can control.”
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is in his twenty ninth season with the workforce. He’s the NBA’s profession wins chief (1,390), which incorporates 170 playoff victories and 5 championships. Alonzo Adams/Imagn Pictures
What have the Spurs carried out up to now when Pop was sick or in any other case absent?
The Spurs have at all times utilized assistant coaches as fill-ins each time Popovich missed video games. Up to now, the assistant drawing that duty was normally the one who had scouted the upcoming opponent coming into the matchup.
Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, former Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown and former Spurs large man Tim Duncan have all stuffed in for Popovich throughout their time as Spurs assistants.
However this time, it’s totally different, as sources have advised Charania that the group instantly turned to Johnson to take over for Popovich. Johnson has changed Popovich up to now, main San Antonio in March of 2023 to a 110-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers when the coach fell sick.
Johnson additionally stood in for Popovich in 2021 when he attended Tim Duncan’s Corridor of Fame induction.
“This has happened a few times,” Johnson stated. “My role is different. I’ve coached summer league before. I’ve been behind the bench. I’ve been in the G League. All those things help the organization. This is just another opportunity in a different role to hopefully help the team win.”
Mitch Johnson is 1-1 as interim coach of the San Antonio Spurs this season. He’ll coach his third sport towards the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Mark J. Terrill/AP Photograph
Who’s Mitch Johnson, the Spurs’ present interim coach?
Johnson, 37, joined the workers as an assistant with the Austin Spurs in 2016, shortly establishing himself as a rising star within the teaching ranks. Many across the NBA stated he was poised to develop into a head coach coming into the season, and was spectacular in interviews for head-coaching positions with different groups, sources stated.
Johnson is the son of former two-time NBA All-Star John Johnson, and first spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the franchise’s G League affiliate in Austin, serving to it win a G League title in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of Popovich’s workers in 2019.
He performed faculty basketball at Stanford, the place he averaged 5.3 factors and 4.1 assists because the Cardinal superior to the NCAA event twice throughout his tenure. Johnson additionally performed briefly within the G League for Tulsa.
What different assistants are on the Spurs’ bench?
Brown spent 9 years as an assistant beneath Popovich in San Antonio earlier than leaving in 2013 to develop into head coach of the 76ers. Brown coached for seven seasons in Philadelphia, however returned to San Antonio in 2022 as an assistant. Matt Nielsen serves as the opposite assistant on the bench.
Brown, 63, is targeted on his position as a participant growth coach. The membership initially employed him in 2002, when the Spurs first introduced future Corridor of Famer Manu Ginobili to San Antonio from Europe, and instantly paired him with Ginobili to help in his growth.
Sources have stated that lately Johnson and Nielsen have dealt with a lot of San Antonio’s movie examine as Popovich has steadily delegated these obligations to assistants.
Like Johnson, Nielsen labored with San Antonio’s G League affiliate earlier than becoming a member of Popovich’s workers, serving as head coach of the Austin Spurs throughout the 2020-21 season, after working the earlier season as an assistant there. Nielsen initially started his teaching profession in San Antonio as a participant growth assistant throughout the 2014-15 season and frolicked as an assistant with the membership’s Summer time League workforce from 2014-19.
Nielsen labored as the pinnacle coach of San Antonio’s Summer time League workforce going into Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.
