Inside The Spurs

Steve Kerr's Honest Statement on Spurs Acting Coach Mitch Johnson

Warriors' Steve Kerr had nothing but praise for Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson before their matchup
Matt Guzman|
Apr 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr signals to the team during the game against the Denver Nuggets in the second period at Chase Center.
Apr 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr signals to the team during the game against the Denver Nuggets in the second period at Chase Center. | David Gonzales-Imagn Images

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Steve Kerr's coaching opposition won't be the usually sarcastic Gregg Popovich Wednesday night. That doesn't mean he isn't familiar with his replacement.

“Mitch (Johnson) and I got to know each other a little bit with USA Basketball over the past couple of summers," Kerr said of Johnson. "I’m a fan of just a wonderful person who stepped into a pretty difficult spot and really had the team playing at a high level before the injuries really hit hard."

This season, San Antonio has gone without superstar big man Victor Wembanyama since Feb. 20, when he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. A few weeks later, De'Aaron Fox underwent season-ending surgery to repair ligament damage on his left fifth finger.

On top of that, backup center Charles Bassey missed over a month nursing a bone bruise in his left knee to force the Spurs to play undersized. Like they have all season, they adapted as best they could.

"Mitch has kept them playing really good basketball," Kerr said. "Last night was a good example. Great (LA) Clippers team, they hung in there the entire way, and that’s what we expect tonight."

Johnson and the Spurs have already been eliminated from the Western Conference Playoffs, but the Golden State Warriors find themselves right in the mix of teams vying for a top seed.

Their last outing against the Spurs might have been an "aberration," but they certainly wouldn't mind another one down the stretch of the regular season.

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI. In the world of professional sports, he’s a firm believer that athletes are people, too. He aims to spotlight the true, behind-the-scenes character of players and teams through strong narrative writing and sharp, hooking ledes.

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