The San Antonio Spurs were given six representatives for NBA All-Star Weekend, and Mitch Johnson plans to sit back and enjoy the show.
Counting David Jones-Garcia, who will miss the Rising Stars challenge with an injury, the San Antonio Spurs will have six representatives at NBA All-Star Weekend.
Victor Wembanyama was named a starter for the marquee event, and Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will play on Team Carmelo in the Rising Stars tournament alongside Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg. Carter Bryant will be in the Dunk Contest, and first-year head coach Mitch Johnson will lead one of the All-Star teams.
While Johnson will technically be working, he's looking forward to a Southern California vacation.
Mitch Johnson to Have Senior All-Star Roster
The All-Star Game is taking on a new format this season, with three teams.
Rather than playing East vs. West, this season will feature "Team USA Stars," "Team USA Stripes," and "Team World" in a round-robin tournament.
Johnson will be heading the Stars, featuring Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Norman Powell, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James.
Johnson has been with the Spurs as an assistant coach since 2019, which means every single one of his players has been in the league longer than him. He doesn't think the veteran roster will need much from him.
"It'll be easy," predicted Johnson. "I don't think they'll need much direction or be looking for it. So plan on having a really good seat and enjoying myself and letting them tell me what they're going to do."
Not that there's really ever much coaching in the All-Star Game, but a lineup of NBA veterans--in an exhibition game--should be able to figure things out.
Johnson will have to go head-to-head against Wembanyama's Team World, coached by Toronto's Darko Rajaković, at least once. Knowing how much Wembanyama relishes competition and the occasional showboating, expect him to bark at Johnson on the bench if he hits a big shot or puts someone on a poster.
It'll all be in good fun.