Spurs' Wembanyama and Johnson Forge Vital Player-Coach Bond

The blossoming relationship between the San Antonio Spurs' first-year coach and their best player could prove vital as the team moves on to the NBA playoffs.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:35pm

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San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and first-year head coach Mitch Johnson have quickly developed a close working relationship, with Johnson serving as Wembanyama's personal warmup coach during his first two seasons. The two have forged a strong connection that could be key as the Spurs make their first playoff appearance in seven years.

Why it matters

The Spurs are hoping Wembanyama and Johnson can emulate the success of other legendary player-coach duos like Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, or Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. Their ability to work together and hold each other accountable will be crucial as the team navigates the playoffs for the first time in the Wembanyama era.

The details

When Wembanyama first arrived in San Antonio, Johnson was assigned to be his personal warmup coach before games, a role he maintained even after becoming the Spurs' interim head coach in 2024. Johnson felt it was important to keep Wembanyama's routine as normal as possible during the team's transition. Now the full-time head coach, Johnson has had to give up those warmup duties, but the two have maintained a close working relationship built on trust and accountability.

  • In the summer of 2022, Wembanyama arrived in San Antonio after being the NBA's No. 1 draft pick.
  • In November 2024, Mitch Johnson became the Spurs' interim head coach after Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke.
  • This season (2025-26), Johnson is in his first full year as the Spurs' permanent head coach.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs' 7-foot-4 rookie sensation who is making a push for NBA MVP honors in his second season.

Mitch Johnson

The 39-year-old first-year head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who previously served as an assistant coach and was responsible for warming up Wembanyama before games.

Gregg Popovich

The Hall of Fame former head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who had a legendary player-coach partnership with Tim Duncan.

Tim Duncan

The legendary San Antonio Spurs player who won five NBA championships playing for Gregg Popovich.

Luke Kornet

A Spurs center who has won an NBA title elsewhere, and understands the importance of the player-coach dynamic.

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What they’re saying

“One of his best qualities is that not long ago (as an assistant), he was with all of us doing the extra hours of work in the gym and all the individual skills. You can tell with the interactions with the guys, especially the guys that's been there for years, you can tell he knows them and he knows how to talk to them.”

— Victor Wembanyama, Spurs Player

“Anything I could do to keep my routine going, I kept. (Warming up Wembanyama) was just one of those things.”

— Mitch Johnson, Spurs Head Coach

“There's a level of accountability I have to hold him to. When you get to know somebody and then hopefully build trust with that person, it allows you to work with them, partner with them, push them in ways that I think probably could be a little bit deeper than just a coach trying to talk to a player.”

— Mitch Johnson, Spurs Head Coach

What’s next

The Spurs will begin their first playoff run in the Wembanyama era, with the player-coach duo looking to lead the team to postseason success.

The takeaway

The close relationship between Wembanyama and Johnson mirrors other legendary player-coach pairings in NBA history, and could be the key to unlocking the Spurs' full potential as they enter the playoffs for the first time in seven years.