SAN ANTONIO — New team head coach Mitch Johnson will lead the San Antonio Spurs following Gregg Popovich’s retirement due to medical issues.
Johnson will have some big shoes to fill, but he already had a near full season at the helm last season as interim coach, which should serve him well in the upcoming season.
But will he, as a technically rookie head coach, win the 2025 NBA Coach of the Year Award?
According to one oddsmaker, he has a shot.
BetOnline released early odds on which coach will take home the award. Johnson landed fifth on the list with +800 odds, with Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley having the best odds at +350.
Johnson will have to have the Spurs humming next season and perhaps lead the team into the playoffs to have a strong shot at winning.
However, the Spurs are poised to make a significant leap next season, led by De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama.
The team will also boast Stephon Castle, promising rookie Dylan Harper, and veterans Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie, forming a deep and formidable roster that can cause fits on both ends of the floor for opponents.
Additionally, Johnson will be flanked by Corliss Williamson and Sean Sweeney as his top assistant coaches, who’ll complement the new head coach’s first full-time season.