There was dramatic information within the Spurs’ world at this time. Gregg Popovich will retire from teaching and transition right into a entrance workplace place. Mitch Johnson, a long-time assistant and interim coach throughout a lot of the 2024/25 season, will take over the large chair formally. It’s the tip of an period.
Usually, a legendary coach leaving and a younger, largely untested substitute being put in place would really feel like a seismic shift. The curious factor with this transition is that, whereas arguably unoptimal from an organizational perspective, it feels seamless and even predestined, to a level.
It’s not possible to not really feel the shock of the official information of Pop’s retirement. He has been on the helm in San Antonio for longer than loads of followers have been alive and has presided over a number of iterations of Spurs groups, some extra profitable than others, however all carrying his seal and id. Accepting that there’ll by no means be a Pop staff once more isn’t simple. On the similar time, the second you zoom out a little bit, his retirement was a totally predictable occasion. The well being points are well-known. Pop was energized by getting the chance to show youthful gamers lately, however the grind of an NBA season couldn’t have been simple to deal with after virtually 30 years of fixed stress and airplane rides. There have been no extra mountains left to climb for him, and he knew he’d at all times have a job in basketball with the Spurs, which may go away him extra time to be round household.
Whenever you cease to consider it, in fact Pop retired. There’s an inclination to have a look at individuals in professional sports activities as superhuman, however Pop was self-aware sufficient to know that there was an opportunity he merely wasn’t bodily in a position to proceed to do his job anymore. He understandably needed to be sure that was the case, however the writing was on the wall. It’s a little bit extra shocking he’s sticking along with his title of staff president of basketball operations as a substitute of “government of no matter he looks like,” however he’ll get a say on no matter his duties find yourself being, as a result of he’s earned that.
The second a part of the story is about Pop’s substitute, and it is going to be extra controversial. The retiring residing legend will get the glowing retrospectives and can be proof against criticism for some time, however the franchise ought to get some scrutiny about how they dealt with the transition. There was an uncommon variety of lately profitable veteran coaches available in the market this offseason, and it’s secure to imagine the Spurs didn’t take into account them significantly. Perhaps there have been talks that by no means obtained leaked, however it looks like the thought was to trip with Mitch Johnson if Pop walked. If issues don’t pan out for Johnson, who didn’t seem like a prodigy in an admittedly dangerous scenario final season, there can be criticism levied on the franchise for not going by means of a extra thorough teaching search, or for nonetheless choosing Mitch even when they did.
Once more, nevertheless, zooming out just a bit makes the plan of succession, if not supreme, then completely rational and predictable. The Spurs worth continuity a lot that they allowed Johnson proceed to work with Victor Wembanyama like he did when he was simply an assistant, even after he took over for Pop as head coach. The inspiration for this staff has been constructed by the R.C. Buford – Brian Wright – Gregg Popovich triumvirate, so bringing in an out of doors rent which may disagree with the way in which issues have been performed or the timeline they’ve been performed at may create instability in a company that detests it. It doesn’t imply Johnson is a sure man who can be a figurehead; individuals who get as excessive on the totem pole in any bench are inclined to have sturdy concepts on how they’d run a staff. However a minimum of within the brief time period, San Antonio is ensuring they don’t get right into a Michael Malone – Calvin Sales space poisonous scenario or a whole change in route on a rebuild that has gone effectively up to now.
It’s one of many greatest days in franchise historical past, a date that successfully separates the pre-Popovich and post-Popovich Spurs. It’s additionally a monumental second for Mitch Johnson, who may have some big footwear to fill, and for the San Antonio mind belief that has put him in cost. But whereas it feels historic, it doesn’t appear to hold the combination of dread, adrenaline, optimism, and melancholy that such a momentous event usually does. There was no violent or surprising break between eras, because the Spurs did their finest to alter irrevocably whereas largely staying the identical.
Whether or not that’s an excellent factor in the long term can be decided by outcomes. For now, two bulletins that ought to, on paper, really feel earth-shattering have had virtually the other response. What occurred feels affordable, cautious however forward-thinking, and well-executed, if not significantly thrilling. The Spurs wouldn’t have it another means.
