**Gregg Popovich & Mitch Johnson: The Spurs' New Era Begins**

The **San Antonio Spurs** are turning the page to a new chapter, as legendary coach **Gregg Popovich** passes the torch to rising star **Mitch Johnson**, signaling a bold shift for the franchise. Here’s what this transition means for the team’s future. 

**The End of an Era: Popovich’s Legacy** 
🏆 **5 NBA Championships** – Architect of the Spurs’ dynasty (1999–2014) 
📊 **NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach** – 1,366+ victories 
🔮 **Culture Setter** – Mentored stars like **Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Becky Hammon** 

Popovich’s influence extends beyond basketball—his **social activism** and **leadership philosophy** have redefined coaching. 

**Mitch Johnson: Pop’s Successor** 
🌟 **Why Him?** 
- **Spurs DNA**: Played under Popovich, then coached in their G-League system 
- **Modern Tactics**: Emphasizes **positionless basketball** and **three-point efficiency** 
- **Becky Hammon’s Influence**: Johnson adopts her innovative play-calling (learn more at [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com)) 

📈 **Challenge Ahead**: Developing **Victor Wembanyama** into a franchise cornerstone 

**What’s Next for the Spurs?** 
🔄 **Roster Changes**: Expect **aggressive moves** in free agency (per [ESPN Sources](https://www.espn.com/nba)) 
🏀 **Style Shift**: Faster pace, more threes—a departure from the old "ground-and-pound" Spurs 

**Fan Reactions** 
- **Optimism**: Young core (Wemby + Johnson’s energy) 
- **Nostalgia**: Tributes pour in for Pop ([#ThankYouPop](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouPop)) 

***Gregg Popovich retirement, Mitch Johnson Spurs coach, San Antonio Spurs news, Becky Hammon influence, Spurs 2025 season preview* 

- [NBA.com Popovich Tribute](https://www.nba.com/spurs/popovich-legacy) 
- [Spurs Official Site](https://www.nba.com/spurs) 
- [Becky Hammon’s Coaching Tree](https://www.wnba.com/news) 

**For More**: [Spurs Rebuild Tracker](https://qalamakaar.blogspot.com/spurs) 

"Popovich’s Best Quotes"

On Leadership & Team Culture

🏆 "Pounding the rock" speech:
"When nothing seems to help, you go and look at the stonecutter hammering away at his rock… It’s not the 100th blow that breaks it—it’s all that came before."

💡 On ego:
"You get over yourself pretty quickly when your best player [Tim Duncan] is your best listener."