San Antonio Spurs Already Aware of Gregg Popovich's Replacement?

Gregg Popovich has been a mainstay for both the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA ever since he took over as head coach in 1996. Since then, he has won three Coach of the Year Awards, and five NBA Finals, has amassed more wins than anyone in NBA history, and was named one of the 15 best coaches of all time.

Anyone with a decent head on their shoulders will tell you he's in the top three all-time, and any Spurs fan will say he isn't number two or three.

However, at 75 years old, the skipper won't be on the sidelines forever,  although he is under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season.

The Spurs built a dynasty largely based on continuity, and as the Spurs grapple with the inevitability of replacing Pop on the sidelines when he retires, the organization will be looking for someone who can lead the team for a long, long time. Popovich has grown an impressive "coaching tree," with many of his former assistants leading NBA teams of their own, but the Spurs are likely to hire in-house.

Mitch Johnson, who has been on Pop's coaching staff for the last four years, is only 37 years old and has already interviewed for head coaching jobs. One of Popovich's top assistants, so it makes sense for him to be next in line.

"The Spurs have been an incubator for NBA head coaches, but Johnson could also make sense as Popovich’s eventual successor when (if?) the legendary coach leaves the bench in San Antonio," wrote The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov.

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As the Spurs look to pass the torch in the middle of the Victor Wembanyama era, hiring in-house makes the most sense.