On May 4, legendary coach Gregg Popovich resigned as head coach and became the team's president of operations. At the same time, acting head coach Mitch Johnson was officially appointed as the Spurs' new head coach, becoming the 19th head coach in the team's history.

Johnson, 41, has been a member of the Spurs coaching staff since 2015. Over the past 10 years, he has gradually grown from an assistant coach to an important right-hand man of Popovich. In November 2024 , Popovich temporarily left the team to recuperate due to a minor stroke. Mitch Johnson was appointed as the team's acting head coach and coached the remaining 77 regular season games.

During this period, he led the team to the top six in the Western Conference, but due to core players Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox suffering injuries and being ruled out for the season, the Spurs ultimately missed the playoffs.

Despite this, Johnson's on-the-spot scheduling, tactical flexibility and ability to train young players during his coaching career have been highly recognized by the management. Spurs managing partner Peter Holt said in an official statement: " Mitch has demonstrated extremely high professional ethics and strategic vision. His calmness and tenacity are exactly the qualities we need for future development. We believe he can lead the team to a new chapter. "

Mitch Johnson played in the NCAA and European leagues as a player. After retiring, he entered the coaching ranks. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Portland in the 2015-16 season and then joined the Spurs system. During his long career as an assistant coach, he is not only familiar with the team culture, but also deeply influenced by Popovich.

As Popovich retired and moved to a management position, the Spurs officially entered a new era. For Mitch Johnson , how to take over the coaching baton left by " Popovich " and lead the young Wenban Yama era has become the most important task on his shoulders.