Why the Spurs would 'run through walls' for Mitch Johnson

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Spurs coach Mitch Johnson enjoys going for walks when he’s on the road, including pounding the pavement during last season's trip to Paris.

“I loved that it's a great walking city, something I really enjoy,” he said.

Closer to home, Johnson enjoyed a hike in the fall with assistant coach Matt Nielsen from the team hotel in Santa Monica to the famed Venice Beach Boardwalk the day before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

But when it comes to their 39-year-old coach, the Spurs players think of running, not walking.

“We’d run through walls for him the same way he'd run through walls for us,” forward Julian Champagnie said.

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When Johnson coaches the Stripes squad at the three-team "U.S. versus the World" All-Star round-robin tournament Sunday, he'll do so with a reputation for having good relationships with this players. It's a factor in the Spurs' strong start, which has them poised to end the franchise's six-year playoff drought after heading into the break 38-16 and seeded No. 2 in the West behind Oklahoma City.

That Johnson gave the players credit for his All-Star gig underscores the bond between them. (All-Star coaching berths usually go to the skipper of the top-seeded team in each conference as of Feb. 1, but Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault was ineligible this year because he coached in last season's game.)

“The accomplishment is a team thing," said Johnson, who is in his first full season guiding the Spurs after Gregg Popovich retired from coaching last May. "Our team performance is why myself and our staff are going to be here for the All-Star game. That is 100 percent a team-centric outcome."

Shifting the spotlight away from himself onto his players is typical of Johnson, the player who knows him best said.

“There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for each and every person in that locker room," Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. "And there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for Mitch. Because that’s the kind of relationship we have. We’ve had that relationship from day one.”

"Day one" for Mitch Johnson and Keldon Johnson dates back to summer 2019 after the Spurs drafted the Kentucky alumnus 29th overall. Around that same time, the Spurs promoted Mitch Johnson to assistant coach after he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Austin Spurs.

Among his first tasks: Mentoring the Spurs' 19-year-old raw, high-energy first-round pick.

“When I came in, Mitch did my ‘vitamins.' He did my film," Keldon Johnson said. "I feel like he’s been one of those guys who always kept it honest with me, and not sugarcoat it. Tell me when I’m wrong, but also give me the praise when I’m right. That builds trust to know someone wants what’s best for you, to know that person is not going to let you cut corners and wants you to be successful.

"I feel like he’s earned that trust. It was never given. He’s earned that trust to be able to coach us and get on us and get the right response.”

Their close relationship helped their coach after he was named acting head coach in November 2024 following Popovich's stroke.

"I've probably coached him harder than any other player in this program since I've been here, and he does nothing but take it and is never negative about it," Mitch Johnson said. "And that really helps me. For a player like Keldon, to be able to receive it, that allows you to coach freely because that's all we're trying to do is help them or push them to be better."

One of the things the players like most about their young coach is he is his own man. From the start, he made it clear he wasn't going to try to be Gregg Popovich Jr. 

"That’s what makes Mitch special," Keldon Johnson said. "He’s his own coach, his own person. He does it his way. And his way has been working. He coaches us tough, and that’s as expected. We have a standard we want to uphold, and he makes sure we uphold that standard day in and day out.”

Spurs forward Devin Vassell agreed.

'He holds you to a certain standard, holds everybody to a certain standard, so we love that," Vassell said.

But it's not just the veterans Mitch has bonded with.  

“He’s always been really on point with what he tells us," All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, 22, said. "As a coach, you’ve only got two or three minutes in a timeout, so you have to go straight to the point. He’s been really efficient in that way. He doesn’t talk for nothing. That’s a great quality he’s had from almost day one. That forces respect."

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Guard Stephon Castle, 21, likes how Johnson puts the players "in the right spots to succeed."

"His main thing is defense," Castle said. "But offensively he gives us a lot of freedom to go out there and play and make plays. He puts us in good spots to give us a lot of confidence to just go out there and play free."

Rookie guard Dylan Harper, 19, said he likes playing for the "very personable" former Stanford point guard.

"He definitely knows how the players are feeling and has a good understanding for when to do things, when not to do things," Harper said. "Having your coach be a former point guard, he kind of understands the game and kind of sees where you're coming from."

Add it all up, and the Spurs have a young coach they hope to have around for a long time.

"This is just the beginning for Mitch," Keldon Johnson said. "He has unlimited potential. You guys will see how special he really is.”