{"id":577543,"date":"2026-02-02T15:36:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/577543\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:36:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:36:33","slug":"spurs-mitch-johnson-named-all-star-game-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/577543\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs’ Mitch Johnson Named All-Star Game Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite a pair of travel-induced delays to their home contest against the Orlando Magic, the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> held up their end of the bargain.<\/p>\n

Entering Sunday evening, San Antonio needed a win and a Denver Nuggets loss to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. At the conclusion of Denver’s home loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the standings were settled.<\/p>\n

Mitch Johnson will join Detroit Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff as a 2026 All-Star Game coach, leading one of three teams in Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Two Key Spurs Not Named All-Star Reserves<\/a><\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault earned the honor last season, and while his squad sits atop the Western Conference, NBA rules state that a coach cannot appear in the All-Star Game two seasons in a row. The honor instead went to the No. 2 seed.<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

Dec 18, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with coach Mitch Johnson during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Johnson doesn’t much care for the fanfare. But, at times, he can’t escape it. It’s part of the trade succeeding Gregg Popovich after 29 seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t be him,” Johnson said during his official head coach introduction last May. “Or \u2018El Jefe.’ But to be able to commit and invest in people and relationships … he did it better than anybody. I will attempt to do it my way, whatever that looks like, going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the stakes were clear, Johnson’s roster rallied around its coach.<\/p>\n

“That’d be a huge honor in his first full year,”\u00a0Devin Vassell told the San Antonio Express-News.<\/a>\u00a0“We obviously have a mindset to win, but this puts a little bit extra into it.”<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Carter Bryant Latest Spur to Accept All-Star Weekend Bid<\/a><\/p>\n

This year, the All-Star Game will feature three eight-player teams: two consisting of American players (USA Stars, USA Stripes) and the third of international players (Team World). All three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament.<\/p>\n

The full list of All-Star selections is as follows: <\/p>\n

Western Conference:Luka Don\u010di\u0107 (LAL)Nikola Joki\u0107 (DEN)Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)Stephen Curry (GSW)Victor Wembanyama (SAS)Deni Avdija (POR)*Devin Booker (PHX)Kevin Durant (HOU)Anthony Edwards (MIN)Chet Holmgren (OKC)*LeBron James (LAL)Jamal Murray (DEN)*<\/p>\n

Eastern Conference<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)Jaylen Brown (BOS)Jalen Bruson (NYK)Cade Cunningham (DET)Tyrese Maxey (PHI)Scottie Barnes (TOR)Jalen Duren (DET)*Jalen Johnson (ATL)*Donovan Mitchell (CLE)Norman Powell (MIA)*Pascal Siakam (IND)Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)<\/p>\n

*First-time All-Star selection<\/p>\n

Both benches are empty. The #Spurs<\/a> have done their part to send Mitch Johnson to the All-Star game. #PorVida<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Bickerstaff has been in Detroit since 2024. In his first season at the helm, he led the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.<\/p>\n

The nod marked a full-circle moment for his family, who watched his father, Bernie, assistant coach the 1979 All-Star Game while with the Washington Bullets.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0All-Star Starter \u2018Another Step\u2019 in Wembanyama\u2019s Ascent<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s special for a lot of different reasons,” Bickerstaff said. “Understanding why you\u2019re in the position you\u2019re in and how important the people around you are in helping you succeed … If the guys don\u2019t do what they do, they don\u2019t buy in … we\u2019re not in this position.”<\/p>\n

Johnson expressed a similar sentiment. Now the first coach since Popovich to coach an All-Star Game, he’ll add to his list of accolades. <\/p>\n

“It’s obviously rare air,” Johnson said when asked about the nod, “being among some of the best doing it (when the All-Star Break comes around). And to be able to be a part of it, in whatever capacity you are, is a really cool experience.”<\/p>\n

2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is set to run from February 13-15 at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is set for 4 p.m. Central Feb. 15.<\/p>\n