Spurs Notes: M. Johnson, Popovich, Harrison, Castle, DeRozan

Assistant Mitch Johnson has compiled an 8-6 record in 2024/25 serving as acting head coach while Gregg Popovich recovers from what the Spurs called a “mild stroke.” While that record is impressive, particularly given what oddsmakers thought of the team entering the season, it doesn’t necessarily reflect how pleased the organization has been with Johnson’s performance.

According to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link), there’s a “universal sentiment” from both the front office and the locker room that the team is “thrilled with how Johnson has carried himself.”

A former Stanford point guard, Johnson became a Spurs assistant in 2016, and was promoted to a front-of-bench role in 2019. As Finger observes, the 38-year-old also served as acting head coach for one game each in 2021 and 2023 when Popovich was unavailable, yet another sign of how highly San Antonio views him as a person and as a coach.

Here’s more on the Spurs:

• There have been no real updates on Popovich’s status beyond San Antonio continuing to say that he’ll be out indefinitely, but Finger writes that there’s a “strong possibility that Johnson will remain in charge for at least a few months.” Obviously, that strongly suggests that Popovich’s return isn’t imminent.
• Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein hears the Spurs attempted to lure longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison away from the company “no less than three separate times” before he became the Mavericks’ GM in 2021 (Substack link). Harrison, who now holds dual titles of GM and president of basketball operations, received a multiyear contract extension from Dallas in June.
• No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle is off to a strong start to his NBA career. Could he be the second consecutive Spur to win Rookie of the Year after Victor Wembanyama claimed the award last season? Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required) considers that question, and lists several other rookies who are early contenders to be named the league’s top rookie. “He’s a really physical player for a rookie, and especially for a guard,” said Utah coach Will Hardy, who has seen Castle five times already including a preseason matchup. “He seems to be poised and competitive. All signs are saying he’s a good player and a really tough kid.”
• Ahead of Sunday’s matchup against DeMar DeRozan and the Kings, McDonald (subscriber link) revisits the offseason sign-and-trade that saw the Spurs acquire Harrison Barnes and a 2031 first-round pick swap (from Sacramento) and DeRozan land with the Kings. DeRozan was “beloved” during his three seasons with the Spurs, and he continues to pay dividends for the organization three-plus years after his departure, according to McDonald, who notes that Chicago still owes its top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick — and its 2025 second-rounder — to San Antonio from the 2021 sign-and-trade that sent the six-time All-Star to the Bulls.