Spurs’ Gregg Popovich – “It’s time” for change to Mitch Johnson

San Antonio – Mitch Johnson extended his hand. Gregg Popovich shook it and instead pulled him to the hug.

And with that the torch was officially adopted. It is a new era in San Antonio.

Popovich spoke publicly on Monday in a stroke six months ago and said at the press conference, where the Spurs Johnson officially presented it as a replacement that it was right to take this step.

“Things get better every day, but it is not good enough for what we plan ahead,” said Popovich. “So it’s time to make this change.”

Flank from Spurs Sizes Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the 76-year-old Popovich, who spoke far quieter than in the past that his health improves and that he fully believes in Johnson.

Popovich will remain with the Spurs as team president, and the management of the team – including the CEO RC Buford and General Manager Brian Wright – will not change. The ideals of the team will not be, said Popovich.

“The goal is to ensure that we keep it going,” said Popovich, adding that he would do everything to help Johnson.

Popovich removed his jacket before he brought Johnson to the podium and revealed a T-shirt with his new title: “El Jefe”, said the Spanish sentence for “The Boss”.

“I’m not training anymore,” said Popovich. “I’m ‘El Jefe.'”

Johnson campaigned in a microphone seat later, not before Popovich reminded the person present that “he would do a great job”.

Johnson looked towards in Popovich’s direction and took a deep breath.

“I am honored by this occasion and more humble by the people with whom I can work and serve,” said the new coach of the Spurs.

Popovich’s public appearance was a little surprise. Surrounded by a number of past and the present of spores – Victor Wembanyama leader – Popovich entered the opening of the press conference shortly before the managing director Peter J. Holt spoke.

Sometimes it tried to get words out very clearly the emotion of the day.

“I can’t be or ‘El Jefe’,” said Johnson when he was asked what he will take from Popovich. “But to be able to invest and invest people and relationships – that can scream and account for someone, and that can be to put her arm around a person’s shoulder and love him – and he did better than anyone else who has ever gone on the sidelines. And I will try to do it in my own way whatever the way it goes forward.”

Popovich-the all-time winners of all times of the NBA, someone who trained the 1996 Spurs and during this time five NBA titles won a few jokes for about seven minutes, which is not unusual for him.

It also became reflective, sometimes even a bit emotional. He suffered the stroke on November 2, hours before the Spurs played the Minnesota Timberwolves that night. Johnson took over as an actor coach for the last 77 games of the season and his campaign was officially announced on Friday.

“I can never express the gratitude that I have to send thoughts and prayers for so many people who take care of the organization and send myself thoughts and prayers since I had this blow,” said Popovich. “Things get better from day to day, but it is not good enough for what we plan ahead, so it’s time to make this change.”

Popovich also thanked some of the people involved in his rehabilitation, some of whom were at the press conference on Monday on the team of the team in the La Cantera training facility.

“Timmy and Manu were in skirt here for all of my training sessions,” said Popovich. “You say it is because you love me and want to be there, if I fall and you want to catch me, something like that. I call it Payback. You give the rehab people new ideas for things that have to do with me. They don’t deceive anyone.”

Popovich thanked the former players and coaches for the view that everyone in the Spurs organization-is the time-out artist involved, those in the ticket office, the depot banks, window wash and more role for the success of the team. He also praised the fans for their years of support and swore that the Spurs would not let them down.

“We all have a part of it,” said Popovich. “It’s not just the players and the coaches.”

The core principles of Spurs – do things right, honor the continuity and welcoming former players back into the wrinkle – will remain on the spot, said Johnson.

“The topic of the book does not change,” said Johnson.