The post-Gregg Popovich Spurs’ teaching employees is beginning to take form, because the group made current hires official. The franchise introduced the addition of Sean Sweeney as affiliate head coach and of former Austin Spurs coach Scott King, who will be a part of Corliss Williamson as an assistant. The arrival of different new faces and several other promotions had been additionally introduced on Monday.
Sweeney spent the previous 4 seasons as an assistant coach with the Mavericks and was additionally on Jason Kidd’s employees in Brooklyn and Milwaukee. He has a repute as an amazing defensive coordinator and has interviewed for head teaching vacancies in recent times. The younger coach was the architect behind elite defenses after incomes Kidd’s full confidence in his Bucks days, as recounted by Milwaukee Magazine:
“I’ve given Sweeney the reins on the protection and we discuss day by day,” mentioned Kidd, in an interview with NBA TV. “He didn’t simply assist us grow to be probably the greatest defenses within the league in a single day. He places within the time.”
Sweeney’s credentials and resume are spectacular, as he’s additionally labored with younger gamers previously, serving to them attain their potential. It’s an enormous addition that ought to make Johnson’s job a lot simpler.
Corliss Williamson and Scott King can be working underneath Johnson and the newly introduced affiliate head coach. Williamson arrives in San Antonio after spending the previous two seasons with the Timberwolves, one other profitable Western Convention group. Large Nasty had a protracted NBA profession and gained a championship earlier than climbing up the teaching ranks. He brings expertise at each stage.
King was the Austin Spurs head coach and the G League’s 2025 Coach of the 12 months. Former Austin coaches who efficiently made the transition to the NBA embody Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder and Mitch Johnson himself, together with Utah Jazz head coach and former Spurs’ assistant Will Hardy and former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, who had been each assistants within the G League affiliate.
There have been additionally additions made to the assistant coach/participant improvement squad. Jimmy Baron, who was the group’s capturing improvement coach previously two seasons, and Josh Brannon, who has spent seven years with the franchise in several roles, had been promoted. Tim Martin was employed with the identical title. Martin was a ability coach and coach who labored with Victor Wembanyama when he was nonetheless in France, enjoying for Mets 92. His former shopper record is each lengthy and spectacular.
A well-recognized title becoming a member of the participant improvement division is former NBA All-Star Rashard Lewis. Lewis was an assistant coach with the Pistons for a 12 months and spent the previous Summer season League with the Spurs’ teaching employees.
The franchise additionally employed Andrew Weatherman as a training analyst and promoted Madison Clower to the position of participant improvement analyst.
Lacking from the bulletins had been Brett Brown and Matt Nielsen, two assistant coaches from Popovich’s employees. There was no affirmation that both will retain their positions, however Nielsen is reportedly staying on, in accordance the KENS5’s Nate Ryan. It could be stunning if Brown continues to be on the employees after this wave of hirings.
It appears to be like like Mitch Johnson was allowed to place collectively his personal crew, and, at the very least on paper, it appears to be like spectacular.
