Before the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, head coach Mitch Johnson teased a potential Jeremy Sochan wrinkle in his player rotation. When a reporter asked Johnson if there’s a chance the Knicks will see Sochan throughout their best-of-7 series, the Spurs head coach didn’t rule it out, he said, per New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield.
“I hope so,” Johnson said. “I hope so. The NBA is a grueling league, and so sometimes it’s timing, sometimes it’s fit, sometimes it’s circumstance, and hopefully he gets an opportunity to take advantage of it.”
Mitch Johnson and the Spurs will host the Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Stephen A Smith calls Spurs’ Gregg Popovich one of the all-time greats
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith gave Spurs’ Gregg Popovich his flowers ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Popovich, who suffered a mild stroke last season, stepped down as head coach but has remained close with the team throughout its deep playoff run.
Smith shared a Gregg Popovich story while calling the Hall of Fame coach one of the best, he said, per ESPN’s First Take.
Article Continues Below
“Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest coaches to have ever coached basketball,” Smith said. “And it wasn’t just about Xs and Os. It’s the mental that he’s a specialist in. I know this because Larry Brown taught me that about him. Larry Brown raved about Gregg Popovich and what he brought to the table. I remember when Gregg Popovich won his first ring, and the next season, the Sixers were their home opener.
“And Gregg Popovich walked over to Larry Brown. Sat down next to him on the bench just to show him this ring that he obviously felt Larry Brown helped him earn because he had been under the tutelage of Larry Brown for so many years.”
"Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest coaches to have ever coached basketball… It's the mental that he's a specialist in… The mastermind is still around."
Stephen A. Smith on Pop's influence on the Spurs ahead of the NBA Finals 👏
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/e6P5Ac6zB8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 3, 2026
Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama couldn’t wait to speak with Popovich after beating the Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
Before the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, head coach Mitch Johnson teased a potential Jeremy Sochan wrinkle in his player rotation. When a reporter asked Johnson if there’s a chance the Knicks will see Sochan throughout their best-of-7 series, the Spurs head coach didn’t rule it out, he said, per New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield.