Mitch Johnson didn’t hide his disappointment after the Spurs’ second preseason game. With opening night only 10 days away, the San Antonio coach made it clear he thinks his team still has work to do before the 2026-27 season gets rolling.
“Tonight would not be up to the standard that we want, and we just have to make sure we take care, take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. We play opening night in 10 days; tonight would not feel like we are ready to go,” Johnson said after the Spurs' second preseason game.
That blunt assessment comes with the pressure turned all the way up in San Antonio. After falling to the New York Knicks in five games in the 2026 NBA Finals, the Spurs are no longer the surprise team. They’re now expected to play like one of the West’s best.
And that’s exactly where the tension lies. The Spurs are being mentioned among the favorites in the Western Conference, right there with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are also on the schedule in preseason. But Johnson’s message suggests the gap between expectation and execution still exists.
The Spurs shocked the league in 2025-26, but now the challenge is different. It’s not about sneaking up on anyone anymore. It’s about handling the spotlight and matching the level that comes with it.
For a fan base that spent years watching success under Gregg Popovich, the bar hasn’t moved. Johnson knows it, and his comments made that plain. The Spurs have to be sharper, more locked in and more ready to cash in on the chances ahead of them if they want to meet the standard now sitting in front of them.
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Luka Doncic Just Raised The Stakes For The Lakers Season
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Now, with a new season approaching, Doncic has made it clear he wants to come back fully healthy and give the Lakers a real shot at contending. The injury and the way last season ended have only sharpened the stakes for him and for a roster that knows how different the picture looks when its best player is available. [Read more 🡒]
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Thunder Frontcourt Depth Suddenly Feels Like A Real Storyline
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Mara has given the idea a more immediate edge in preseason, where his early play has suggested he could be ready to help sooner than many expected. If that carries into the regular season, it gives Oklahoma City another layer of size and flexibility, and perhaps turns what once looked like a long-term project into a more practical rotation conversation right away. The Thunder have built plenty of their identity on versatility, but this is one area where simply having more healthy options could matter as much as anything else. [Read more 🡒]