This was quite a weekend for the San Antonio Spurs. First they have to stay over in Charlotte due to weather. Then they have to land in Atlanta en route and change planes due to mechanical issues.
The Spurs return game originally scheduled for 3:00 p.m. was pushed to 6:00 p.m. and eventually 8:00 p.m. The Many of the players and coaching staff went straight from the airport to the arena as there was little time to break between.
The Spurs had a fantastic first quarter followed by an abysmal second
quarter giving up 40 points and giving the Orlando Magic the lead. Mitch Johnson went into the locker room and revved up his team. The Silver & Black answered only allowing 42 points in the second half.
For his efforts, Johnson will be rewarded with trip to the All-Star Game.
He’s doing so in his first official season as head coach. An honor his predecessor Gregg Popovich earned four times during his illustrious career.
Entering into Sunday evening, the Spurs needed a win and a Denver Nuggets loss to regain the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
But last night OKC played a role in determining the All-Star head coach as they played the Denver Nuggets. Their victory over Denver reinstated the Spurs as second in the Western Conference.
Why is the second seeded coach chosen for the All-Star Game?
For those who are unaware, the coach of the top seeded team takes the helm each year, unless that individual coached the game the previous year.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault earned the honor last season, and although OKC is at the top of the Western Conference, he cannot appear in the All-Star Game this season. The honor then goes to the second seed.
Mitch Johnson will join Detroit Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff as a 2026 All-Star Game coach, leading one of three teams in Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend.
After the game, Spurs guard Dylan Harper was asked if the team knew the impact of the win against Orlando.
“I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything. Congrats to him, I think he’s done a great job of bringing us together. I think letting us go, but at the same time holding us accountable from top to bottom. So I mean he definitely deserves it, that’s a historical award. Congrats to him.”
Johnson, whose postgame came before the end of the OKC/Denver match, played down the opportunity before it was official but did say that it “I think it would be an honor and humbling to be able to be a part of All-Star Weekend with the best players in this league…it’s something that I’d just be honored to have the privilege to do. Probably a great bonus in memories for me and my family, and if not, I’ll enjoy the break.”
Alas, there will be no break for Mitch Johnson. He’ll coach the Spurs against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday — their fifth and final meeting of the regular season — before heading to the west coast with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, David Jones Garcia, and Carter Bryant.
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