By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-05-02 12:15:40
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)以他标志性的热情奔放的方式，对马刺队任命米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)为格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)的继任者做出了反应。
“我感到很兴奋，”这位前锋说道。“我知道米奇也会很兴奋。我知道整个教练组都会很兴奋，我迫不及待地想要投入工作。他会做得非常出色。”
在周五上午宣布波波维奇在马刺队主教练的位置上经历了创造历史、冠军加冕的29个赛季后卸任不久，俱乐部宣布米奇·约翰逊将接替他的位置，此前他担任了上赛季大部分时间的代理主教练。
这位西雅图人成为了球队历史上第19位主教练，此前波波维奇转任篮球运营总裁的全职职位。在波波维奇在本赛季开始的五场比赛后遭遇轻微中风后，米奇·约翰逊被任命为球队剩余77场比赛的代理主教练。
“虽然我对比赛的热爱和热情依然存在，但我已经决定是时候卸任主教练一职了，”76岁的波波维奇在一份声明中表示。
尽管包括两位履历上有总冠军头衔的知名候选人在内，马刺队还是决定坚持选择米奇·约翰逊。
丹佛掘金队在赛季结束前几天解雇了迈克尔·马龙(Michael Malone)，而仅仅两个赛季前，他刚刚率领掘金队获得了他们的第一个NBA总冠军。菲尼克斯太阳队在4月14日解雇了迈克·布登霍尔泽(Mike Budenholzer)，他曾在2021年率领密尔沃基雄鹿队夺冠，此前太阳队以联盟历史上最高的工资总额无缘NBA季后赛和附加赛。三月底，孟菲斯灰熊队在季后赛开始前九场比赛解雇了泰勒·詹金斯(Taylor Jenkins)，此前他在执教灰熊队的六个赛季中取得了四个胜多负少的赛季。
布登霍尔泽和詹金斯都曾在马刺队工作过，但米奇·约翰逊在俱乐部智囊团的全力支持下获得了这份工作。联盟消息人士还表示，这一决定是在波波维奇“深信”米奇·约翰逊上赛季所做的工作以及他在该组织此前九个赛季中所做的工作的基础上，给予祝福后做出的。
“我们为米奇·约翰逊成为我们的下一任主教练感到非常激动，”马刺队执行合伙人彼得·J·霍尔特(Peter J. Holt)在一份声明中表示。“在他加入球队的十年里，我们已经看到米奇拥有正确的价值观、沉着冷静和潜力来带领我们走向未来。”
38岁的米奇·约翰逊即将迎来他在马刺队的第10个赛季，他于2016年加入球队，担任奥斯汀马刺队（他们在G联赛中的发展球队）的助理教练。在晋升到2020年后，他担任了过去六个赛季的助理教练，包括过去五个赛季在替补席前排。
“我非常感激和荣幸能获得这个难得的机会，”米奇·约翰逊说。“我感谢波波维奇教练、(马刺队首席执行官)R.C.(布福德(R.C. Buford))、(马刺队总经理)布莱恩(莱特(Brian Wright))和彼得信任我来传承我们的文化，我保证会尽我所能地承担起这个责任，让马刺队的球迷们感到自豪。”
在三周前完成他第六个赛季后，凯尔登·约翰逊是马刺队目前效力时间最长的球员，他说在得知米奇·约翰逊被任命为主教练后，他向他打了一个祝贺电话。
“米奇上赛季做得非常出色，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“我觉得这是他应得的。他工作非常努力——不仅是米奇，还有他的整个教练组。他们上赛季做得非常棒。”
马刺队选择米奇·约翰逊来接替波波维奇，因为他帮助球队度过了一个充满逆境的赛季。除了波波维奇的中风之外，他们还在2月20日失去了明星中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)，他因右肩血栓导致赛季报销。
米奇·约翰逊还不得不应对在假期期间执教纽约的两场比赛的挑战，其中包括俱乐部自2016年以来首次在圣诞节比赛；在洛杉矶度过了五天，当时野火肆虐该地区，这场灾难迫使对阵湖人的两场比赛中的一场被推迟；在巴黎度过了一周，与印第安纳进行了两场比赛；以及一笔重磅交易的后果，该交易将明星后卫达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)从萨克拉门托带到了圣安东尼奥。
另一个打击是，福克斯在3月17日接受了赛季报销的手部手术。尽管失去了文班亚马和福克斯，马刺队还是设法以34胜48负的战绩结束了本赛季，此前他们在过去两个赛季中各只赢了22场比赛。
在米奇·约翰逊的带领下，他们的战绩为32胜45负，其中包括几场战胜有望进入季后赛的球队的比赛，最值得注意的是3月份战胜了纽约，4月份战胜了金州勇士队。
“这是一个特殊的年份，发生了这么多事情，我们遭遇了伤病，波普发生了不幸的事情，但我感觉米奇和他的教练组做得非常出色，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“我感觉那些家伙很渴望。我感觉他们真的，真的会让我们朝着正确的方向前进。”
“……米奇完全有能力抓住这个机会，做得超出预期。”
凯尔登·约翰逊说，米奇·约翰逊上赛季最令人印象深刻的事情之一是，尽管他面临着所有的挑战，但他还是设法保持了冷静。
“他的性格很稳定，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“他没有过于兴奋或过于沮丧。他始终保持着稳定。他继续带领我们度过他和他的教练组所经历的所有情况。”
凯尔登·约翰逊说，经历这一切，米奇·约翰逊仍然“做他自己”。
“这可能是我最喜欢米奇的一点：他不是想成为波普，”这位前锋说。“他百分之百地做自己。”
整个赛季，其他几位球员也称赞了约翰逊。这包括文班亚马，即使在约翰逊承担了代理主教练的职责后，他仍然继续从教练担任他的赛前热身伙伴中受益。
“这表明他关心我们的日常，他关心我们作为个人，”文班亚马在一月份说。“他不愿意因为他成为了主教练而牺牲他与我们的这种关系。这只是表明了他的个性和他的内心所在。”
在常规赛的最后一天，文班亚马说他“相信”米奇·约翰逊会在休赛期成为主教练的情况下“成长为那个角色”。
“我认为我们掌握得很好，”文班亚马说。“我们整个组织都在互相支持……我已经为任何事情做好了准备，我知道组织会做出正确的决定。”
San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson, right, speaks with Spurs forward Keldon Johnson during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio.
FILE - San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson gestures during the first half of a Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Paris, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs Keldon Johnson (0) gets advice from assistant coach Mitch Johnson. Golden State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs on Sunday,March 30,2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
点击查看原文：Mitch Johnson named full-time head coach, Spurs announce
Mitch Johnson named full-time head coach, Spurs announce
Keldon Johnson reacted to the Spurs naming Mitch Johnson as Gregg Popovich’s successor with one of his trademark full-throated shows of positive emotion.
“I’m excited,” the forward said. “I know Mitch is going to be excited. I know the staff is going to be excited, and I just can’t wait to get in to work. He is going to do a great job."
Shortly after announcing Friday morning that Popovich had stepped down after a history-making, championship-studded 29 seasons as the Spurs head coach, the club announced Mitch Johnson would succeed him after serving as acting head coach for most of last season.
The Seattle native became the 19th head coach in franchise history after Popovich moved into the full-time role of president of basketball operations. Mitch Johnson was appointed the team’s acting head coach for the remaining 77 games of the 2024-25 season after Popovich suffered a mild stroke five games into the season.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich, 76, said in a statement.
The Spurs decided to stick with Johnson even though several big-name candidates, including two with championships on their resumes, are available.
Denver fired Michael Malone just days before the end of the season and just two seasons after he led the Nuggets to their first NBA title. Phoenix fired Mike Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to a crown in 2021, on April 14 after the Suns missed the NBA playoffs and play-in tournament with the largest payroll in league history. And in late March, Memphis fired Taylor Jenkins just nine games before the start of the playoffs after he recorded four winning seasons in his six campaigns with the Grizzlies.
Budenholzer and Jenkins both previously worked for the Spurs, but Johnson got the job with the full support of the club’s brain trust. League sources also said the decision came after Pop gave his blessing based on the “deep belief” in the job Johnson did last season and his work in his previous nine seasons with the organization.
“We are thrilled for Mitch Johnson to be our next head coach,” Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said in a statement. “Throughout his decade in the organization we have seen that Mitch has the right values, poise and potential to lead us into the future.”
Johnson, 38, is entering his 10th season with the Spurs after joining them in 2016 as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs, their developmental squad in the G League. He spent the last six seasons as an assistant, including the last five on the front of the bench after receiving a promotion in 2020.
“I am truly grateful and honored to receive this incredible opportunity,” Johnson said. “I am thankful for Coach Pop, (Spurs CEO) R.C. (Buford), (Spurs general manager) Brian (Wright) and Peter trusting me to carry on our culture and I promise to give this responsibility everything I have to make Spurs fans proud.”
Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ longest-tenured current player after completing his sixth season three weeks ago, said he placed a congratulatory phone call to Mitch Johnson after learning he had been named head coach.
“Mitch did an amazing job last season,” Keldon Johnson said. “I feel like this is well-deserved. He worked really hard – not only Mitch but his entire staff. They did a great job last season.”
The Spurs chose Mitch Johnson to follow Popovich after he helped guide the team through a season filled with adversity. In addition to Popovich’s stroke, they also lost star center Victor Wembanyama on Feb. 20 to a season-ending blood clot in his right shoulder.
Mitch Johnson also had to navigate the challenge of overseeing two games in New York in the midst of the holiday season, including the club’s first game on Christmas Day since 2016; five days in Los Angeles while wildfires ravaged the area, a disaster that forced one of two games against the Lakers to be postponed; a week in Paris for two games against Indiana; and the aftermath of a blockbuster trade that brought star guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio from Sacramento.
Another blow came after Fox underwent season-ending hand surgery March 17. Despite the losses of Wembanyama and Fox, the Spurs managed to finish the season 34-48 after winning just 22 games in each of their last two seasons.
Under Mitch Johnson, they were 32-45, including several wins over playoff-bound teams, most notably New York in March and Golden State in April.
“It was a unique year with the things that happened, with the injuries we had, the unfortunate event that happened to Pop, but I feel like Mitch and his staff did a tremendous job,” Keldon Johnson said. "I feel like those guys are hungry. I feel like they’re going to really, really make us turn in the right direction.
" … Mitch is more than capable of going above and beyond with this opportunity."
Keldon Johnson said one of the most impressive things about Mitch Johnson’s work last season was that he managed to maintain his composure despite all the challenges he faced.
“His character is steady,” Keldon Johnson said. “He didn’t get too up or too down. He stayed steady throughout. He continued to lead us through all the situations he and his staff went through.”
Through it all, Mitch Johnson remained “his own man,” Keldon Johnson said.
“That’s probably one of my favorite things about Mitch: He’s not trying to be Pop,” the forward said. “He is himself 100 percent of the time.”
Several other players praised Johnson throughout the season. That included Wembanyama, who continued to benefit from the coach serving as his pre-game warm-up partner even after he assumed the duties of acting head coach.
“It shows that he cares about our routines, he cares about us as individuals,” Wembanyama said in January. “He’s not willing to sacrifice this relationship he has with us because he became a head coach. It just shows his personality and where his heart is.”
On the final day of the regular season, Wembanyama said he had “trust” that Mitch Johnson would “grow into that role” in the event he became head coach in the offseason.
“I think we are in good hands,” Wembanyama said. “We’re supporting each other all throughout the organization. … I’m ready for anything and I know the organization will do the good decisions.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News