When Mitch Johnson was introduced as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs back in May, he didn’t command the room. He listened. He was thankful. He smiled. He even shed a tear or two. Then, when it was his
turn to say a few words he said, “I will attempt to do it my way.”
For a franchise that has been defined by continuity, where Gregg Popovich’s voice has guided the locker room for nearly three decades, the tone was fitting. Johnson was not promising reinvention or a championship in his first full season. He was promising hard work, and through the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season, the hard work has been working.
When Popovich announced his retirement from coaching following a stroke suffered last November, San Antonio’s reaction seemed equal parts gratitude and anxiety. After all, it’s not easy to replace the face of a franchise. Johnson, 38, had been at Popovich’s side for years – a steady assistant known for his attention to detail, trustworthiness, and connection with players. Still, the leap from assistant to head coach is a tall task.
There was no unanimous clamor for Johnson. Instead, there was a murmuring of names like Frank Vogel or Mike Budenholzer. Following the announcement, fans feared growing pains like a 2-7 start, or a stalled team with an identity crisis. Instead, we have witnessed something that resembles the past, not in the sets or rotations, but in the spirit of the team. The Spurs are defending again, they are communicating, they are fighting for every loose ball and rebound, and most importantly, they are winning.
Johnson’s fingerprints were visible from the beginning of the Spurs’ season opener against the Dallas Mavericks. The players already knew it, but fans saw it first-hand in a clip that went viral – even if Johnson wished it hadn’t.
“Possession by possession. Dismantle them in the half-court. Play fast. Get back. Do it again. Be disciplined to be disciplined, to like and embrace the boring—the mundane,” Johnson exhorted his team during a timeout as the Spurs were already up 20 points.
It’s Popovich’s mantra filtered through Johnson’s delivery. Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said this philosophy has become the foundation of their identity. “A big consistent message that Mitch has had is don’t take down your aggressiveness because of fouls,” Barnes said in a recent postgame session with reporters. “We have a lot of bodies, I think that’s one of the great things about our team, we have a lot of depth.”
The veteran forward went on to say that mentality has been central to the Spurs’ strong start. Johnson has implemented a physical, possession-by-possession system, and through nine games it’s being effective. “Guys can get in foul trouble or foul out, that’s a part of the process, but don’t take plays off trying to avoid that part of it,” Barnes added.
That trust has translated into fluid, team basketball. San Antonio’s offense now moves with cohesion, and the defense, once a sore spot during the rebuild, has found its heart again. There’s a buzz inside the Frost Bank Center. Pregame feels a little louder, and the crowds a little fuller. No one is talking playoffs just yet, but something more important is happening: hope.
Johnson’s team is reengaging a fanbase that has seen its share of struggles and tough times over the last six years. There are no gimmicks or tricks; it’s just basketball in its basic form. It’s the Spurs as fans remember them. What makes Johnson’s 7-2 start so different isn’t just the record, it’s the reminder that Spurs culture hasn’t changed. Johnson isn’t trying to overpower opponents with a super-team. He is grounding a young, talented roster in fundamentals: possession by possession, with defense and ball movement.
It’s becoming apparent why Pop chose Johnson as his successor. He’s the bridge between two eras and fluent in “Pop speak” but not afraid to translate it for a new generation. And the players have responded. They are playing freer and competing harder. All while having fun, which might be the most important lesson of all.
The early success for the Spurs under Mitch Johnson doesn’t guarantee anything at this point. The NBA season is a long one, and there will be losing streaks, injuries, and reality checks. But what’s undeniable is that the mood has shifted. In an era that is obsessed with winning now, Johnson is teaching his squad patience.
He’s coaching like someone who understands the weight and responsibility of the job. He is steady, grounded, and most importantly, authentic. For a city that’s accustomed to winning championships, authenticity is a requirement. It’s also precisely what was needed – even if no one was talking about it at the time.
“I will attempt to do it my way.”
Nine games in, it sounds like a philosophy, and just might be the start of something that endures.
