The Spurs haven’t had to wait long for Keldon Johnson to validate their decision to hold off on an extension.
Just a few games into the season, the long-time forward has yet to make a strong case for a new deal. That’s especially notable after he won Sixth Man of the Year last season, a run that may have left him expecting an extension over the summer. Instead, San Antonio passed after his rough playoff showing, and so far that choice looks increasingly sound.
Through five games, Johnson is averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 20% from three. Those numbers are down across the board from last season, and the scoring punch the Spurs were hoping to see hasn’t been there.
The issue isn’t effort. Johnson has still brought energy off the bench, throwing himself into the dirty work with loose-ball dives and offensive rebounds.
But the production hasn’t matched the activity. His three-point shot hasn’t shown up, and he’s getting to the rim less often than he did before.
That’s a problem at a time when his minutes may already be under pressure. Tobias Harris is set to make his Spurs debut soon, and San Antonio could find itself crowded at forward. Carter Bryant is already getting spot minutes, and Johnson could wind up in a similar situation if his play doesn’t pick up.
If the struggles continue, coach Mitch Johnson could trim his role even further or pull him out of the rotation altogether. The Spurs have other options, and Harris and Bryant both look capable of helping this season.
The best outcome for Johnson is simple: turn it around and earn his place back. If he does, he could still have a future with San Antonio. If he doesn’t, the Spurs have every reason to keep moving on without extending him.
In Other News...
Dylan Harper Is Giving Spurs Fans A New 2025 Draft Argument
Dylan Harper is already forcing a different kind of conversation around the Spurs 2025 draft class. The second pick in that draft is opening his sophomore season as a starter and logging more than 30 minutes a night, a sign that San Antonio is trusting him with a heavy role far earlier than most young guards get in this league.
Harpers rise also gives Spurs fans a fresh way to measure the draft against the top selection, Cooper Flagg. Flagg may still carry the bigger national spotlight, but Harpers path is tied directly to a team with real championship ambitions and a playoff runway that could make his impact feel immediate. For a Spurs team chasing bigger goals this season, that kind of development is exactly why his early stretch matters so much. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Winning Streak Faces A Big Question Before Timberwolves Test
The Spurs head into their matchup with Minnesota trying to keep a winning streak rolling, but the injury report has added a layer of uncertainty to a game that already carries some weight. Stephon Castle is listed as questionable because of a migraine, a notable wrinkle for a San Antonio group that has been leaning into its momentum and will want as much continuity as possible against a Western Conference opponent.
Minnesota has its own issues, with Rudy Gobert questionable because of back spasms and Anthony Edwards still sidelined by a right knee injury. Even with the Timberwolves shorthanded, this is the kind of test that can still tell a lot about where San Antonio stands, especially if the Spurs have to navigate it without one of their young pieces in Castle. [Read more 🡒]
Stephon Castle Is Giving Spurs Fans A New Kawhi Debate
Stephon Castles breakout has given Spurs fans a familiar kind of conversation, the sort that starts with numbers and quickly turns into a bigger debate about what a young wing can become. Early in the 2026-27 season, Castle has been doing a little of everything for San Antonio, averaging 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.4 steals while looking far more advanced offensively than most players his age.
The comparison naturally leads back to Kawhi Leonard, whose third-season production now serves as the old benchmark for a new Spurs hopeful. Castles role and development path are different, and that matters, but the early signs are enough to make people wonder whether this is just a hot start or the beginning of something much bigger. He still has plenty of time to answer that question, which is what makes the discussion around him so compelling right now. [Read more 🡒]