The 2024-25 NBA season for the San Antonio Spurs was presupposed to be a big step upward from final season. Victor Wembanyama could be in his second 12 months, and Chris Paul was introduced in to supply veteran management and assist Wemby in his course of. Merely put, the Spurs had been anticipated to win extra.
Nevertheless, issues took a tragic flip when five-time championship-winning coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke earlier within the season. With Coach Pop remaining out for the rest of the season, it’s truthful to ponder the longer term head-coaching place ought to he resolve to stroll away from the sport. San Antonio has not indicated that is the case. Nevertheless, given Pop’s age and up to date well being scare, it’s a viable thought. So, in that gentle, there are a couple of teaching candidates the Spurs may take a look at if they should for subsequent season.
Spurs interim HC Mitch Johnson leads candidates to interchange Gregg Popovich if the legendary coach retires
Not solely did Popovich’s well being emergency considerably dampen the Spurs’ season, however now Wembanyama is out for the year due to a blood clot in his shoulder. This was shortly after the staff made an enormous commerce for former Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox. The Spurs pulled off the commerce with out giving up a few of their youthful, future expertise, too, together with rookie Stephon Fort.
Mitch Johnson has been with the Spurs beneath Popovich since 2019. He took the reins to function the staff’s interim head coach and can now deal with these duties till the season’s finish. Contemplating his longstanding historical past and familiarity with the staff, studying beneath Popovich and his respectable job filling in, Johnson leads the record of doable names San Antonio may flip to if Popovich retires.
Mitch Johnson
Regardless of the place the Spurs sit within the Western Convention standings, Johnson has finished an admirable job within the brief time he’s coached the staff. The group probably noticed him as Popovich’s inheritor going again a couple of seasons. At one level, it was thought that Becky Hammon may take over each time Popovich retired. Nevertheless, Hammon left the Spurs to take over head-coaching duties for the Las Vegas Aces within the WNBA. It was a transfer that has labored out for Hammon, with a few championships to her title. Johnson’s promotion was sudden, however his repute with the gamers has grown positively in a short while. He has good standing with Fort, Devin Vassell and Wemby and now has an opportunity to develop with Fox. If Popovich retires, Johnson is the primary title to be thought of.
Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell ought to have been made a head coach within the NBA already. Cassell has been teaching for a decade now, however in a earlier life, he received three championships. His credibility and resume are certainly there, and his longtime assistant teaching expertise solely provides to why San Antonio may take a look at him. He’s lengthy been thought of one among, if not one of the best, assistant coaches within the league. It’s excessive time he was supplied a head-coaching function, and the Spurs could be match.
Becky Hammon
What a full circle second it will be if Hammon had been to return to San Antonio. Though she was thought of Popovich’s doable replacement-in-waiting, the WNBA got here calling. Hammon is a wonderful coach and was extremely revered among the many Spurs gamers when she was there. She spent eight years in San Antonio, so the familiarity is actually there, as is the respect from the group. Her time in Vegas has proven she is aware of find out how to command a locker room, plus she’s a winner. On prime of that, she realized from Pop, and there’s no higher individual to discover ways to coach from. Hammon could be a history-making selection. She would develop into the primary feminine head coach to run an NBA staff. However it goes far past that — she’s earned it.
This text first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
