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All things considered, Mitch Johnson’s first season as the San Antonio Spurs’ full-time coach was an objective success.
The 39-year-old not only guided the young Spurs to the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but also helped the franchise dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder and advance to the NBA Finals.
That’s where Johnson and the Spurs’ magical run ended, though, as the New York Knicks secured a 4-1 series win and the Larry O’Brien trophy. Johnson certainly wasn’t without his share of blame for San Antonio’s shortcomings in the final round of the postseason, as his blind loyalty to De’Aaron Fox and failure to play Dylan Harper in pivotal moments ended in disaster.
Based on a report from ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, it’s safe to say the Spurs have a major F0x-Harper issue heading into the offseason.
“Harper voiced displeasure earlier in the season about a lack of playing time and his role, but those increased as the season progressed and the rookie gained more experience,” Wright wrote Friday. “Internally, the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard."
“Sources called Fox a calming presence and the team's closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn't change that. The four-year, $229 million contract extension Fox signed last summer kicks in next season, raising his salary from $37.1 million to $49.8 million.”
“He's scheduled to make $61.7 million in the final year of the deal in 2029-30, when he'll be 32 years old. It's expected that calls from Harper's camp for a spot in the starting lineup will grow louder going into next season. But it's not an issue San Antonio needs to address right away. Fox's contract won't become a potential eyesore until after (Victor) Wembanyama's upcoming rookie extension kicks in, and when the Spurs are looking next summer to extend (Stephon) Castle to what should be a max deal.”
If the Spurs are truly committed to Fox, there’s a good chance he’ll remain a starter with the franchise, which would further frustrate Harper going into his second NBA campaign. The Rutgers product plays with the poise of a polished 10-year vet and clearly isn’t afraid of the big stage, making Johnson’s decision to favor a struggling two-time All-Star over him a bit puzzling.
The Spurs cannot afford to have a repeat of their all-time 2026 NBA Finals collapse. If Harper’s role didn’t increase drastically moving forward, San Antonio could improve the odds of it happening again in the foreseeable future.
Simply put, while Fox is an experienced veteran who knows the ins and outs of the league, Harper is the contributor Johnson should have more faith in until proven otherwise.
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