By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-05-05 15:08:55
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。
2025年5月5日，星期一，在圣安东尼奥，米奇·约翰逊（左）与前球员马努·吉诺比利（中）以及前圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练坐在一起，等待被介绍为圣安东尼奥马刺队NBA篮球队的新任主教练。(美联社图片/Eric Gay)
米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)可能不会在接下来的29个赛季里执教马刺队。
他不太可能以NBA历史上胜场最多的教练的身份退休。他可能也不会赢得五个总冠军，尽管马刺队希望很快能加入争夺冠军的行列。
这不是什么爆炸性新闻，而且无论球队高层选择谁来取代无法取代的格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)担任球队主教练，情况都是如此。
这位38岁的约翰逊在周一正式就任马刺队近三十年来的首位新任主教练时，能承诺什么呢？
就马刺队的目标以及如何实现这些目标而言，时代并没有改变——即使主教练办公室的铭牌自1996年以来首次更换。
“这不是重启，”约翰逊说。“这不是重置。这是一个新的篇章，因为它看起来不一样，但这本书的主题并没有改变。”
在马刺队总部度过了一个充满情感的上午，这场活动既是新闻发布会，又是家庭聚会，还像是成人礼。76岁的波波维奇亲自将开启维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)时代的钥匙交给了约翰逊。
这是波波维奇自去年11月以来首次公开露面，当时他中风，结束了他辉煌的执教生涯。波波维奇计划继续担任球队篮球运营总裁——或者像他周一穿的T恤上描述的头衔那样：“El Jefe”（老大）。
虽然身体抱恙但思维仍然敏捷的波波维奇向聚集在一起的人群发表了讲话，前球员蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和马努·吉诺比利(Manu Ginobili)分别站在他的两侧，随时准备在他需要时扶他一把。
波波维奇在那里将火炬传递给约翰逊，他亲自挑选的继任者。
“我们必须让一个完全有能力付出自己最好的人来负责，因为这支球队值得也需要这样的人，”波波维奇说，他的声音比他的球员们——或者震惊的NBA裁判们——记忆中的更加虚弱。“这就是米奇·约翰逊将接任的原因之一，因为我们完全相信他会延续很久以前开始的事业。”
2025年5月5日，星期一，在圣安东尼奥，米奇·约翰逊在被介绍为圣安东尼奥马刺队NBA篮球队的新任主教练后回答问题。(美联社图片/Eric Gay)
在波波维奇决定于周五卸任主教练后，马刺队本可以选择向外部候选人开放这个职位。肯定会有很多人不惜一切代价来到马刺队总部，争取执教文班亚马的机会。
相反，马刺队立即宣布，在波波维奇生病后上赛季以代理教练身份结束的约翰逊将获得这个全职职位。
在约翰逊的指导下，马刺队取得了32胜45负的战绩，总共34场胜利追平了球队自2018-19赛季以来的最佳战绩。
约翰逊周一被问及他是否惊讶这么快就被赋予了这份工作。
“惊讶是一个微妙的词，”约翰逊说。“我不知道你如何期望被任命为主教练，或者什么时候真正意识到这一点。”
即便如此，约翰逊的一生都在为这一刻做准备。
约翰逊在西雅图长大，他的父亲约翰(John)是超音速队的全明星前锋。他本人在2005年至2009年期间在斯坦福大学担任控球后卫，然后徒劳地试图在海外开始他的职业球员生涯。
约翰逊于2016年夏天加入马刺队的工作人员，担任G联赛的助理教练，然后在2019年转到NBA俱乐部。
总经理布莱恩·莱特(Brian Wright)表示，通过站出来帮助马刺队度过球队历史上最艰难的赛季之一，约翰逊赢得了永久执教的机会。
“这是一个很容易的决定，”莱特说。“我们对他这个人非常有信心。”
球队的执行合伙人彼得·J·霍尔特(Peter J. Holt)向波波维奇致敬，称其为“我们家族三十年来唯一的教练”。
霍尔特的父亲彼得·M·霍尔特(Peter M. Holt)于1996年开始担任俱乐部执行合伙人，同年波波维奇接任主教练。
“我们文化的蓬勃发展，是因为我们拥有始终如一的特殊领导者，”霍尔特说。“波普体现了这种文化，并奠定了坚不可摧的基础。”
霍尔特表示，他相信约翰逊最适合帮助在圣安东尼奥传承波波维奇的遗产。
“米奇·约翰逊践行我们的价值观，并力求卓越，”霍尔特说。“我们很高兴他能带领我们，与我们共同成长。”
马刺队选择将主教练职位留在自己人手中是有原因的。周一，当球队身患疾病的大家长波波维奇指定约翰逊继续他的工作时，这一点就得到了充分的展示。
包括邓肯、吉诺比利、大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)、肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)和法布里西奥·奥贝托(Fabricio Oberto)在内的前球员都在观众席上。同样在场的还有仍在城里的现役球员，包括文班亚马、哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)、斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)、布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)和桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)。
德章泰·穆雷(Dejounte Murray)也在现场，他是马刺队的控球后卫，直到俱乐部在2022年夏天将他交易到亚特兰大。
穆雷第一次见到约翰逊时年仅9岁，当时约翰逊是他们家乡西雅图的一名青少年教练。
穆雷广泛地认为约翰逊引导他度过了困苦的童年，并帮助他制定了远离监狱、走向NBA的道路。当马刺队在2016年首轮选中穆雷时，他们聘请了约翰逊一同前往。
如果必须有人取代波波维奇，穆雷很高兴这个人是约翰逊。
“他理应得到这份工作，”穆雷说。“他是一位领导者。他有耐心，有爱心。你不用担心他是否充满动力或拥有渴望。这就是米奇·约翰逊。”
当然，六个月前，约翰逊根本无法预料到这一切。
11月2日下午，他像往常一样来到Frost Bank Center上班。
然后在对阵明尼苏达的比赛开球前几个小时，波波维奇倒下了，约翰逊被任命为无限期的代理教练。
无论是他们两人的人生——还是圣安东尼奥本身——都不会再一样。
这一切都促成了周一，马刺队正式要求约翰逊填补一双无法填补的鞋子。
约翰逊被任命为马刺队过去29年来的第二位新教练，他说他将依靠他的前任给他的最好建议：做你自己。
“这里有一些原则和价值观，它们在几十年前就已经奠定了基础，所以蓝图已经存在很长时间了，”约翰逊说。“但能够用我自己的方式，以我的方式去做，最重要的是对球员们真诚，这可能是我最依赖的东西。”
的确，在马刺队篮球这本书中，下一章的作者正在改变。然而，笔迹应该看起来很熟悉。
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, center, claps as Mitch Johnson is introduced as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, sits between former players Manu Ginobili, left, and Tim Duncan, right, as he waits to introduce Mitch Johnson, left, as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
With the help of former players Manu Ginobili, left, and Tim Duncan, right, former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, introduces Mitch Johnson as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Former San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball head coach Gregg Popovich, left, leaves following a news conference with former players as new head coach Mitch Johnson, second from right, poses for photos with Spurs General Manager Brian Wright, right, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
With the help of former players Manu Ginobili, left, and Tim Duncan, right, former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, introduces Mitch Johnson, seated, as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, arrives to a news conference with current and former players where Mitch Johnson was introduced as the new head coach of the Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
点击查看原文：New coach Mitch Johnson aims to do the Spurs Way, his way
New coach Mitch Johnson aims to do the Spurs Way, his way
Mitch Johnson, left, sits with former player Manu Ginobili, center, and former San Antonio Spurs head coach as he waits to be introduce as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Mitch Johnson probably will not coach the Spurs for the next 29 seasons.
He is unlikely to retire as the all-time winningest coach in NBA history. He will probably not win five championships, though the Spurs hope to soon be competing for them.
This is not breaking news, and it would have been true no matter who franchise brass had chosen to replace the irreplaceable Gregg Popovich as the team’s head coach.
All the 38-year-old Johnson could promise Monday upon his formal introduction as the Spurs’ first new head coach in nearly three decades?
As far as the Spurs’ goals and how to get there, the times they aren’t changing – even if the nameplate on the head coach’s office will be for the first time since 1996.
“This is not a restart,” Johnson said. “This is not a reboot. It’s a new chapter because it looks different, but the theme of the book isn’t changing.”
In an emotional morning at the Spurs’ headquarters that was part news conference, part family reunion and part bar mitzvah, the 76-year-old Popovich was on hand to personally hand Johnson the keys to the Victor Wembanyama era.
It was Popovich’s first public appearance since November, when he suffered the stroke that ended his Hall of Fame coaching career. Popovich plans to stay on as the team’s president of basketball operations – or as the T-shirt he wore Monday described his title: “El Jefe.”
Ailing but still able-minded, Popovich addressed the gathering with former players Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili at each side, there to steady him if needed.
Popovich was there to pass the torch to Johnson, his hand-picked successor.
“We have to have someone in charge who’s fully capable of giving their very best, because that’s what this group deserves and demands,” Popovich said, his voice frailer than his players – or shellshocked NBA referees – might recall. “That’s one of the reasons why Mitch Johnson will be taking over, because we have total faith in him to continue what’s been started a long time ago.”
Mitch Johnson answers question after he was introduced as the new head coach of the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, in San Antonio, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
After Popovich decided to step away from coaching Friday, the Spurs could have opted to open the job up to outside candidates. There would have been no shortage of applicants beating a path to 1 Spurs Way for the chance to coach Wembanyama.
Instead, the Spurs immediately announced Johnson, who finished last season as acting coach after Popovich fell ill, would be awarded the post on a full-time basis.
The Spurs went 32-45 under Johnson’s guidance, with their 34 total wins matching the team’s most since 2018-19.
Johnson was asked Monday if he was surprised to have been given the job so quickly.
“Surprise is a tricky word,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how you ever are expecting to be named a head coach or when it really sinks in.”
Even so, Johnson’s life has been building to this moment.
Johnson grew up in Seattle, where his father John was an All-Star forward with the SuperSonics. He played point guard himself at Stanford from 2005 to 2009, then tried in vain to get his professional playing career started overseas.
Johnson joined the Spurs’ staff in the summer of 2016 as a G League assistant before transitioning to the NBA club in 2019.
By stepping up to help the Spurs navigate one of the more trying seasons in team history, Johnson earned the shot on a permanent basis, general manager Brian Wright said.
“It was an easy decision,” Wright said. “We felt super confident in the human being that he is.”
Peter J. Holt, the team’s managing partner, saluted Popovich as “our family’s only coach for three decades.”
Holt’s father, Peter M. Holt, began as the club’s managing partner in 1996, the same year Popovich took over as head coach.
“The way our culture thrives is by having special leaders that lead consistently,” Holt said. “Pop has embodied that culture and laid an impenetrable foundation.”
Holt said he believes Johnson is positioned to best help carry on Popovich’s legacy in San Antonio.
“Mitch Johnson lives our values and strives for excellence,” Holt said. “We are thrilled to have him lead us and grow with us together.”
There was a reason the Spurs chose to keep the head coaching job in the family. It was on display Monday as Popovich, the team’s stricken patriarch, anointed Johnson to carry on his work.
Former players including Duncan, Ginobili, David Robinson, Sean Elliott and Fabricio Oberto were in the audience. So too were current players still in town, including Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Also in the building was Dejounte Murray, a Spurs point guard until the club traded him to Atlanta in the summer of 2022.
Murray was 9 years old when he first met Johnson as a youth coach in their hometown of Seattle.
Murray widely credits Johnson for shepherding him through a troubled childhood and helping plot a course away from the jailhouse and toward the NBA. When the Spurs drafted Murray in the first round in 2016, they hired Johnson to come along.
If anyone had to replace Popovich, Murray is glad it is Johnson.
“He deserves it,” Murray said. “He is a leader. He is patient and caring. He’s somebody you don’t have to worry about being motivated or having that hunger. That’s who Mitch Johnson is.”
Six months ago, of course, Johnson could have envisioned none of this.
He showed up for work at the Frost Bank Center on the afternoon of Nov. 2 expecting a day like any other.
Then Popovich collapsed a few hours before tipoff of a game against Minnesota and Johnson was named acting coach indefinitely.
Nothing in either man’s life – or in San Antonio itself – would be the same.
It all led to Monday, when the Spurs officially asked Johnson to fill a pair of shoes that cannot be filled.
Named the Spurs’ second new coach in the past 29 years, Johnson says he will lean on the best piece of advice his predeccessor has given him: Be yourself.
“There’s principles and values that are here and have been laid decades ago, so the blueprint has been around for a while,” Johnson said. “But to be able to do it in my own skin and my way, to be authentic for the players most of all, is probably the biggest thing that I leaned on.”
Indeed, in the book of Spurs basketball, the author of the next chapter is changing. The handwriting, however, should look familiar.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News