Spurs' Head Coach Mitch Johnson Named to Coach 2026 NBA All-Star Game
SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs' journey to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was anything but ordinary. Starting in Charlotte, North Carolina, and detouring in Atlanta due to an equipment issue, the team's charter plane finally landed in San Antonio after a day of delays and unexpected twists. But the real triumph came when the Spurs emerged victorious over the Orlando Magic, securing their coach, Mitch Johnson, a spot as a head coach in the All-Star Game on February 15th in Inglewood, California.
Johnson, in his first full season as head coach, becomes the second All-Star head coach in the franchise's history, following the legendary Gregg Popovich in 2016. The Spurs' impressive 33-16 record through 49 games since the 2016-17 season is their best start ever. Johnson's leadership has been instrumental in the team's success, with the Spurs boasting the third-most clutch wins in the NBA (17) and an impressive offensive rating of 124.8 in clutch situations.
"It's an incredible honor to be part of the All-Star Weekend with the league's best players," Johnson expressed. "The NBA always delivers an exceptional experience, and it's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players."
The NBA's new "U.S. vs. the World" format for the All-Star Game means three teams will be coached by head coaches. Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff, whose team is atop the East, will coach one of the teams. Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault, who led the West's top-performing team last season, is out due to coaching the All-Star Game the previous year. This left Johnson and David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets in the running for the final coaching spot, which was decided just before the Spurs' game against the Magic.
The day's events began with a snowstorm in Charlotte, causing a delay in the game's start time. The team's flight was then diverted to Atlanta due to a mechanical issue, adding further complications. Despite the challenges, the Spurs' resilience and Johnson's leadership shone through, securing his place in NBA history.
