In the wake of legendary head coach Gregg Popovich's departure, the Spurs put their unrivaled trust in a household coach that they believe can fill his shoes. In his first full season as head coach, Mitch Johnson is ready to prove his doubters wrong. And yes, there are some very strong doubters.
In particular, well-known NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor shared a backhanded diss at Johnson in a recent tweet. In response to a post regarding current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's impending free agency, O'Connor added that the Spurs should be first in line to go after the Hall-of-Fame-caliber leader.
While Steve Kerr is one of the best to ever do it and an unmistakably great captain, the Spurs have no reason to abandon the Johnson ship. Don't let the temptation hit; Johnson is the man for the job.
Mitch Johnson has already proved himself as the Spurs best option
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There is a reason why the Spurs didn't even bother to explore the head coaching market this offseason. In fact, there are multiple reasons.
For one, Johnson proved everything he needed to in his stint as interim head coach. In this tenure, the young leader kept the Spurs afloat in a tumultuous season full of injuries. While a 32-45 finish as head coach isn't flashy, it is an impressive accomplishment given everything the Spurs dealt with.
Although we would have loved more wins, Johnson showed what he has to offer as head coach. With Johnson as the lead man, Victor Wembanyama was truly unlocked. Unlike previous seasons, the big man was fully fleshed out and began to show the world what he's capable of. Johnson gave the superstar the freedom he needed, and Wemby took full advantage.
Further, Johnson did an incredible job ushering in Stephon Castle as one of the [Spurs' future cornerstones](https://airalamo.com/mitch-johnson-keys-helping-stephon-castle-avoid-brutal-sophomore-slump). Johnson gave him the time he needed to adjust, and then once he was ready to spread his wings, he was granted that opportunity. Under the guidance of Johnson, Castle won Rookie of the Year, and it was all thanks to his head coach.
Mitch Johnson's time as an understudy will bode well for his success
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As an apprentice to Gregg Popovich, Johnson has soaked up a breadth of knowledge and made the transition as easy as possible. He has been able to run the Spurs much like Popovich would, but with his own unique style. This is something no coach, including Steve Kerr, could do.
The Spurs are a team that likes to stay true to their roots and stick to a familiar playstyle. Johnson allows them to do that. The presence of Popovich will live vicariously through Johnson as the Spurs prepare to launch into another potential dynasty.
Make no mistake, Johnson is the right man for this opportunity. He has fully earned this chance, and I do not doubt that he will absolutely rock it. Any fantasy of Steve Kerr is gone, and[Johnson is here to prove all of his doubters wrong.](https://airalamo.com/doubters-wrong-about-mitch-johnson-its-about-to-show)