With the regular season almost over, the San Antonio Spurs will have big questions to answer this summer. They will have to address some roster issues if they want to contend next season, but they will also need to figure out who will be coaching the team as well.
Legendary head coach Gregg Popovich only coached 10 games this season prior to suffering a stroke. While he is reportedly planning on returning next season, that isn't a guarantee. In the meantime, the Spurs are currently being coached by assistant Mitch Johnson.
Johnson was thrust into a difficult role of replacing a Hall of Fame coach who had won four championships in his 29-year tenure with the Spurs. He also had to deal with the season-ending injury to Victor Wembanyama and later De'Aaron Fox, but his coaching when both were healthy left a lot to be desired.
Many Spurs fans questioned his decision-making, specifically his rotations, with many appearing poorly thought out. Criticizing the coach can be difficult to do since it is up to the players to execute, but two NBA analysts also recently criticized Johnson on his X's and O's.
If Gregg Popovich is unable to coach the San Antonio Spurs next season, Mitch Johnson shouldn't replace him.
Both Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On podcast and John Hollinger of The Athletic ranked Johnson among the worst coaches in the NBA during their recent coach rankings. Hollinger ranked Johnson 27th while Duncan ranked him 26th, which should be cause for concern for Spurs fans.
Interestingly enough, both Hollinger and Duncan ranked former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins 10th in their coaching rankings. They also ranked former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone sixth and seventh, respectively, and they could be available this summer if Popovich isn't able to return to the sideline.
Other potential options could include current Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer and Becky Hammon, a two-time WNBA champion and coach of the Las Vegas Aces. Budenholzer spent 18 seasons as an assistant coach on the Spurs while Hammon spent five seasons as an assistant with the team.
Both coaches have ties to the Spurs and to Popovich as well as championship experience. That would make them attractive candidates if he is unable to guide the Spurs next season.
Overall, the Spurs are still waiting for word on whether Popovich will coach next season. If he can't, then Johnson may be next in line to replace him, but the Spurs may be better served looking elsewhere for their next head coach.