yahoo - 6/3/2026 11:38:35 PM - GMT (+2 )
The San Antonio Spurs are back in the NBA Finals. It may not seem like it, but it's been over a decade since their last Finals appearance in 2014.
Back then, the team looked a lot different. Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were the names to know. Now, it's young guns like Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and, of course, Victor Wembanyama.
However, the players aren't the only thing that's changed in San Antonio. The coaching staff has also shifted. While legendary head coach Gregg Popovich is still involved with the organization as the team's President of Basketball Operations, sideline duties have been passed to Mitch Johnson, Popovich's 39-year-old former assistant.
Don't let his youthful age fool you. Johnson has learned from the best of the best and has clearly taken those lessons to heart. Here's what to know about the coach at the helm of the San Antonio Spurs ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
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Johnson took over head coaching duties on November 2, 2024 last year, coaching 77 games for the team after Popovich suffered a mild stroke ahead of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Johnson has been with the team since 2016, working directly under Popovich since 2019 prior to his promotion to head coach.
He was not officially named head coach until after the 2024-25 season, once Popovich had been promoted to his current full-time position. Before being forced into interim coaching duties, Johnson was held in high regard around the NBA as one of the best young assistant coaches in the league.
His 77-game stint as interim head coach wasn't his first time taking over for Popovich. Johnson had taken over twice before for various reasons. Per USA TODAY's Lorenzo Reyes, Johnson coached the team during a contest in May 2021 when Popovich attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Spurs' legend Tim Duncan. The Spurs lost that game 140-103 to the Phoenix Suns.
Johnson earned his first win as a head coach in March 2023, when Popovich was forced to miss a game due to an illness. The Spurs would defeat the Indiana Pacers, 110-99.
Is Johnson a former basketball player?Yes. Johnson played four seasons with Stanford University, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game during his collegiate career. Johnson also had a brief professional stint in the G League with the Tulsa 66ers. He never reached the NBA.
Johnson is also the son of two-time NBA All-Star John Johnson.
How has Johnson performed as head coach of the Spurs?This is Johnson's first season as the official head coach of the team. He's obviously done very well. Taking into account the previous 79 games Johnson served as head coach for the organization without the official title, Johnson boasts a 95-66 regular season record with a 12-6 postseason record.
Has a rookie head coach ever reached the NBA Finals?Many times, in fact. While some fans may not consider Johnson a true rookie head coach, he is still not the first to lead his team to an NBA Finals appearance.
Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, six head coaches have led their teams to the NBA Finals in their first season:
- 1980: Paul Westhead, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1982: Pat Riley, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2015: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
- 2016: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2019: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
- 2022: Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics
Of those six, only Udoka has failed to win the title after reaching the NBA Finals.
Would Johnson be the youngest head coach to win an NBA Finals?While very young, Johnson would not be the youngest in history. That honor belongs to Joe Mazzulla, who won a title with the 2024 Boston Celtics at just 35 years, 353 days old.
Johnson would be the fifth-youngest, though. Currently 39 years, 186 days old, Johnson would surpass Tom Heinsohn, who won his first title with the 1974 Celtics at 39 years, 259 days old, regardless of how many games it could potentially take the Spurs to win the 2026 NBA championship.
Here are the four coaches who won their first titles at a younger age than Mitch Johnson (age listed in parentheses; years-days):
- Joe Mazzulla, 2024 Boston Celtics (35-353)
- Pat Riley, 1982 Los Angeles Lakers (37-80)
- Alvin Attles, 1957 Golden State Warriors (38-199)
- Tyronn Lue, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers (39-47)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Spurs' head coach Mitch Johnson? What to know for NBA Finals
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