The San Antonio Spurs have more options on the wing and in the frontcourt this season, and that might be the biggest reason Keldon Johnson’s rough patches could feel even louder.
Tobias Harris is the new face in the mix, and his arrival adds another layer to a forward group that already includes Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Carter Bryant. With that kind of depth, San Antonio is no longer leaning as heavily on Johnson, even after he won Sixth Man of the Year.
That should help the Spurs in theory. In practice, it may only make his worst habits stand out more.
Johnson’s game has always come with a little chaos, but the kind of chaos Spurs fans hate most is the possession where he drives straight into traffic and gives the ball away. Gregg Popovich built a style around crisp, beautiful basketball, and San Antonio still wants to play that way. That’s why the moments when Johnson goes into tunnel vision can be so jarring.
He did take a step forward in efficiency last season once he settled into his bench role, but the next jump has to come in the details. The Spurs need more than 1.4 assists per game from him, and they need fewer turnovers. With so many other forwards available, the leash for those frustrating possessions gets shorter.
The playoff picture only sharpened the concern. Johnson appeared in every game, but his numbers dropped hard.
In 17.9 minutes per contest, he averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, and he had more turnovers than assists. For a score-first player, that kind of postseason can raise real questions, and it has already put his future in focus.
That future gets even more complicated because Johnson is set to make $18 million this year in the final season of his contract. He’s a seven-year veteran who is still in his prime, but San Antonio has a decision to make.
There’s a path where he stays a useful piece for a long time. There’s also a path where the fit never quite settles.
The Spurs also have more mouths to feed on offense. Dylan Harper is expected to take on a larger role with the second unit, and Tobias Harris is going to get plenty of touches.
San Antonio does not need another player trying to force points. It needs guys who will fit the system, make the right reads and defend with discipline.
That’s where Johnson will be tested. His instinct is to attack, and at times that can turn into him trying to do too much, even in a smaller role. The Spurs and their fans know the look: one hard drive, one crowded lane, one turnover, and everyone in the building wants the ball moved earlier.
Mitch Johnson will have to manage it carefully. The head coach should not be shy about shortening the leash if bench players are missing the game plan or making bad decisions.
With this much depth, there’s no reason to sit through repeated mistakes. One bad possession should be enough to send a message.
San Antonio should still have plenty of creation when everyone is healthy. Tobias Harris can score, and even if he can get tunnel vision, he has been through eight straight playoff runs and is chasing his first championship.
Stephon Castle and Harper should keep growing. Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell can get buckets.
The Spurs do not need Keldon Johnson trying to manufacture everything himself.
What they need is the blender. Move the ball, force the defense to rotate, and let the talent work. Senseless drives into a crowd are not the answer.
That’s why Johnson’s season could become one of the Spurs’ most frustrating storylines. The talent is there, but the fit only works if he buys into it completely. Mitch Johnson has enough depth to turn elsewhere, and that may be the cleanest way to keep the whole thing from spinning out.
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