Coach Popovich Speaks on ” Why Keldon Johnson May Be Benching For A Long Time”

During the 2023–24 NBA regular season, player Kelson Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs has had several challenging moments. Having not been a consistent starter since his first season in 2019–20, this is the first time in his career.

 

For a player, that requires modification in and of itself. It can be difficult for certain players to find a way to contribute in a reduced role when they come off the bench. Johnson has demonstrated his ability to deliver on occasion, but in Year 5, the franchise was probably expecting more from him.

The Spurs understood this season would present some difficulties as they began a rebuild around the No. 1 choice in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama. Their main objective was to develop, as Gregg Popovich and his staff are attempting to teach a young squad how to win.

 

A coaching staff can teach a player how to grow in a variety of ways. The Spurs employed a tough-love strategy with Johnson on Sunday night in their matchup with the Utah Jazz, who set a new low.

First quarter: Johnson entered the game at his usual position. He played for four minutes until fouling out terribly on Kris Dunn, who was putting up a screen so Lauri Markkanen could make a three-pointer.

 

The coaching staff decided to send Johnson a message since they were unhappy with it. After that error, Popovich chose to substitute Sandro Mamukelashvili, a 2021 second-round pick out of Seton Hall, for him in the game.

Mitch Johnson, the assistant coach, provided additional clarification regarding the decision to sit Johnson after just four minutes of play following the game. Popovich modified his approach to conveying the coaching staff’s message since it appears that the fifth-year player is not understanding it.

 

Mamukelashvili, in Johnson’s place, had an excellent performance. With a plus/minus of +8 during his 14 minutes, he was the only Spurs player to end with a positive total. The Seton Hall graduate had one steal, one assist, and one rebound for eight points.

 

Larger changes might be in store if Johnson doesn’t understand the message after being benched. The Spurs are assessing whether players around Wembanyama should be viewed as future building bricks, and failure to embrace the idea will undoubtedly end in a one-way ticket out of town.

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