Southwest Notes: Ujiri, Schmitz, Sweeney, Popovich, Rockets
Christian Clark of The Athletic profiles new Mavericks president of basketball operations and alternate governor Masai Ujiri, writing that the veteran executive got his NBA start as an unpaid scout with Orlando in 2002 prior to landing a paid scouting job with Denver the following year.
Seven years later, Ujiri was named the Nuggets’ general manager, winning the Executive of the Year award in 2012/13 and then leaving for the top front office job in Toronto shortly thereafter. The Raptors made the playoffs in eight of Ujiri’s 12 seasons, winning the title in 2019, before the two sides parted ways last summer.
Ujiri’s first major move in Dallas was hiring Mike Schmitz to be his top lieutenant, with a title of general manager. Schmitz, who was most recently the Trail Blazers’ assistant GM, was also a draft analyst for several years before joining Portland, Clark notes.
“I’ve known him for many, many years,” Ujiri said of Schmitz. “Incredible scout. Incredible leader. Just digs deep into work, data and what you want to know about: really scouting players, team building, all those things, you know? Treating people well. Staff organizing. Managing people. It’s a whole package.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- Within a feature story on Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney, Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link) refers to the 41-year-old as the “unsung star” of the team’s playoff run. Sweeney, who has been linked to multiple head coaching vacancies this spring, is known as a defensive guru — the Spurs had the fifth-worst defensive rating in the NBA in 2024/25 but had the third-best mark in 2025/26, McDonald writes. Several members of the team praised Sweeney’s preparedness, competitiveness and basketball acumen, and unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama said Sweeney deserved “all of” the credit for San Antonio’s defensive turnaround this season, according to McDonald. “His attention to detail on everything and the way he can explain things to make it make sense for us (is big),” guard Stephon Castle said. “He’s a big reason we’re one of the top defenses in the West.”
- Although he formally stepped down as the Spurs‘ head coach at the end of last season after suffering a stroke in November 2024, Gregg Popovich has quietly been around the team throughout 2025/26, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes, providing honest feedback and support to several players on the roster. “He’s been a big part of this whole year,” rookie Carter Bryant told The Athletic. “It’s been amazing. Not everybody has the greatest coach of all time just kind of sitting there in their laps. I just try to take it up as much as I can.” Popovich’s technical title is president of basketball operations, but it sounds like he’s been more of a coaching adviser, Weiss adds. “I think that’s one big thing, respecting the game and not taking any of this for granted,” Devin Vassell said. “And just with life, he’s taught me so much stuff off the court, whether it’s family or giving back in the community, he’s always had that at his forefront, and I appreciate him for that.”
- Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) shares some Rockets-related chatter from the combine. People around the league don’t expect Amen Thompson to sign a rookie scale max extension this offseason, according to Shankar, who suggests Thompson might receive something like 20-23% of the salary cap instead of the full 25%. Shankar also hears Tari Eason‘s next contract could come in around $22MM annually. Eason will be a restricted free agent this summer if he’s given a qualifying offer, as expected.
Spurs Notes: Wemby, Edwards, Bryant, Two-Way Players
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson made the “ultimate gamble” on Friday when he decided to leave Victor Wembanyama in the game after the star center picked up his fifth personal foul with six-plus minutes remaining, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Instead of backfiring, the decision paid dividends, as San Antonio defeated Minnesota by seven points to regain home-court advantage in the Western Conference semifinals.
Wembanyama put up incredible numbers in the victory, recording 39 points (on 13-of-18 shooting), 15 rebounds and five blocks in 37 minutes. The Spurs were plus-16 when he was on the court and minus-nine in the 11 minutes he didn’t play.
“It’s the feeling I get before games, I dunno, this excitement, this heat in my heart,” Wembanyama told “NBA on Prime Video” after the Spurs’ win. “It just gets stronger and stronger as the game goes on. I’m built for this. I love this more than anything else.”
According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, Wembanyama became the fourth player since blocks became an official statistic in 1973/74 to record a 35-15-5 stat line in the playoffs, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The French big man also limited his opponents to 4-of-21 shooting on field goals he contested, Wright adds.
“He really imposed himself on the game,” Johnson said. “He established himself dominating the paint and rim on both ends. When he does that, it kind of feels like everything opens up for himself and his teammates. Then he gets some shots on the perimeter. He gets some closeouts. He gets the gravity in terms of teams trying to be physical with him. He did a good job of playing though contact and not expecting calls. [He] just met the physicality with the proper execution.”
Here’s more on the Spurs, who are now up 2-1 in the second-round series:
- After Anthony Edwards scored 27 points through three quarters, Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle helped limit the Timberwolves star to five points in the final frame, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. “We know he likes to get to that left-hand step back for sure, so we just tried to pressure him and make him go right,” Vassell said. “And then sending doubles, and doing stuff like that. But ultimately it was to wear him down all through the game, so at the end of the game, he wasn’t feeling comfortable.”
- Rookie forward Carter Bryant only played eight minutes in Game 3, but he made the most of his opportunity, knocking down both of his three-point attempts in the second quarter, Orsborn notes in another story. “I think the biggest thing is just coming in and just doing my job,” Bryant told the San Antonio Express-News. “Sometimes it calls for me to hit those two shots. Sometimes I miss those two shots, but I’m playing spectacular defense on the other end. So it’s just understanding you can’t allow yourself to get out of the game. Just something as simple as that.”
- Two-way players aren’t eligible to compete in the postseason, but Emanuel Miller, Harrison Ingram and David Jones Garcia are viewing this playoff run as an opportunity to learn and improve their games, according to Orsborn. “It’s something you can’t really put into words, seeing what we’re doing (to prepare),” said Miller. “It’s been a blessing, a learning experience for sure, learning from the best coaches, learning from (president Gregg Popovich), learning from the players, learning how to attack each game, how to attack each series and how they attack, really, each day.”
Spurs Notes: Barnes, Fox, Vassell, Johnson
The Spurs hold a 3-1 advantage in their first-round series against the Trail Blazers and can close it out on Tuesday night. Veteran forward Harrison Barnes experienced a championship with Golden State, so he knows what it takes to make a deep playoff run.
Relying on the identity the Spurs have built during the season is a key to postseason success, Barnes told Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
“The biggest thing is continuing to do what we’ve been doing, which is relying on our habits,” Barnes said. “We’ve had 82-plus games to build an identity and the coaching staff led by Mitch [Johnson] has us well-prepared every night. It’s just a matter of sticking to our standard. We’ve had great contributions from all of the guys in different moments, which is something I am very proud of.”
Barnes says the Spurs have all the tools to win a title.
“We have depth and variability on both ends of the floor. We’re able to score in a multitude of ways. We’re able to defend in multiple ways,” Barnes said. “And because we’ve had so many different lineups throughout the season, we’ve been able to win in different ways.”
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- De’Aaron Fox delivered his best outing of the series with 28 points and seven assists in Game 4, when the Spurs pulled away to a 114-93 win. He scored 11 of those points in the fourth quarter. “It might have been his best game as a Spur,” Johnson said, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News (subscription required).
- Devin Vassell, who has three seasons remaining on his five-year, $135MM contract, came up big in the third quarter of Game 4. Vassell scored nine of his 11 points during that span, sparking the Spurs’ 73-point second-half explosion. “Just being patient, not forcing anything,” Vassell told Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “We have a lot of great players and sometimes the ball just doesn’t come your way. So just being ready whenever the ball is swung my way and just being ultra aggressive after I get it.”
- Keldon Johnson earned the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award this season. Johnson believes that commitment to the team supersedes any individual goals, he told ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. “I was averaging 22 points [as a starter], had some individual success,” Johnson said. “I’ve been [an Olympic] gold medalist. But I realized that if you want to be here, sometimes you’ve got to remove your ego. San Antonio is a place I wanted to be. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I get an opportunity to be a part of something special. They saw the bigger picture before I did. But I’m blessed and fortunate to be able to go through it, thrive in it and have fun with it.”
Spurs Notes: Wembanyama, Vassell, Defense, Kornet
One game into the NBA playoffs, Victor Wembanyama is already setting records. The Spurs star poured in 35 points in Sunday’s 111-98 win over Portland, eclipsing Tim Duncan’s mark for the highest-scoring postseason debut in franchise history, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. It’s also the most points ever for anyone in his first playoff game who made at least five three-pointers.
And Wembanyama may have been even more dominant on the defensive end, as the Trail Blazers missed all 11 shots they took when he was the primary defender.
“The first time I stepped on the court, even for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different,” Wembanyama said. “Everybody was ready. The fans were ready. It’s probably the most excitement I’ve seen this year in this arena. In terms of tactics, the sport aspect of it, it was different because we had more time to prepare.”
Portland tried several different defensive approaches to control Wembanyama, but he managed to keep scoring. Wright notes that he made four of his six shots from the field when guarded by Donovan Clingan and was 2-of-5 against Robert Williams. Against double teams, he finished 2-of-4 with six points.
Wembanyama looked more than ready in his long-awaited playoff debut, and the Spurs appear capable of making a lengthy playoff run. He told reporters that he was inspired by the presence of franchise legends Duncan and David Robinson, who were cheering the team on.
“I heard the crowd when they went on the camera,” Wembanyama said. “Seeing those two courtside and the recognition they get from the fans was amazing. It’s so cool.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- After Wembanyama’s scintillating performance, he chose Devin Vassell to conduct the team’s post-game drum celebration, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only piece. Vassell scored eight of his 15 points in the third quarter to help the Spurs build a double-digit lead and registered two impressive blocks 17 seconds apart that ignited the crowd. The first came against the 7’3″ Clingan, and the second was a chase-down block of Jrue Holiday. “That’s what we talk about, not giving up on the play,” Vassell said. “Every possession matters, whether it’s the first possession in the first quarter or the last possession of the fourth quarter. Play to the whistle.”
- Sunday marked the 12th time this season that the Spurs have held an opponent under 100 points and their record is perfect in those games, notes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Deni Avdija scored 30 points, but San Antonio did a good job of keeping his supporting cast in check. The Spurs were also able to defend Avdija without frequent fouls, as he only shot six free throws.
- As great as Wembanyama was, the Blazers only lost his minutes by four points, per Bill Oram of The Oregonian. They were minus-9 in the 14:17 that backup Luke Kornet was on the court. “Yeah, we couldn’t make money out of those minutes,” Portland coach Tiago Splitter said. “You’re right. Kornet did a good job of defending and grabbing offensive rebounds. We’ve got to be better in those minutes, for sure.”
Spurs Notes: Vassell, Fox, Wembanyama, Johnson, Popovich
Devin Vassell‘s success with the Spurs has come in large part because of his willingness to accept a different role than the one he initially envisioned for himself, James Herbert writes for CBS Sports. Rather than being San Antonio’s secondary star, the 25-year-old wing has become one of its crucial role players.
Vassell has been asked to fill different needs for the team since being drafted in 2020 due to the transitional stage the Spurs were going through. In 2025/26, he posted his lowest scoring average since ’21/22, but he has figured out how to be exactly what the team needs from him.
“I know my game,” Vassell said. “And I know I can get to my spot whenever I want to, I know I can get a shot whenever I want to. But for the betterment of the team, sometimes that’s not what you need.”
His teammates have been impressed with Vassell’s adaptability and the way he’s rounded out his game. “[His impact] has more substantive value to it,” Julian Champagnie said.
We have more from the Spurs:
- De’Aaron Fox believes that this season offers him the next and last bucket-list accolade for his trophy shelf, Tom Orsborn writes for the Express-News. “I’ve been All-NBA. I’ve been an All-Star,” he said. “The last thing I think that there is, is to win a championship. And I think we have a good shot at it.” He breaks down for Orsborn some of the matchups he expects to see from the Blazers in the first round.
- With the Spurs ready to take on the Blazers in Game 1 on Sunday, Victor Wembanyama is as ready as could be for his first taste of NBA playoff basketball, knowing full well the championship expectations that rest on his shoulders, Weiss writes. “This moment, it’s really what you work on all year, but also your whole career,” the Defensive Player of the Year favorite said. “We’re dreaming of the playoffs as kids before coming here.” Wembanyama called this the first truly high-stakes basketball he has played since the 2024 Olympics.
- Mitch Johnson‘s path from star high school point guard in Washington to Stanford floor general to coaching in the NBA set the stage for his debut as the first San Antonio head coach not named Gregg Popovich since 1996, Jeff McDonald writes in a profile on Johnson for the San Antonio Express-News.
- While Popovich has remained mostly out of the public eye since retiring, he has been monitoring the season and his former players closely, according to Keldon Johnson. “He stays in touch. He texts me or calls me from time to time, probably every other day,” Johnson said, per Jared Weiss at The Athletic, adding that he still gets tips on what he could be doing better from his former coach. “But at the same time, he’s very encouraging, telling me that he’s proud of me and things like that. I mean, he’s definitely still himself. He’s still sharp. He’s still very much Pop. He has not skipped a beat at all.”
Spurs Notes: Harper, Vassell, Castle, M. Johnson, Wemby
With Devin Vassell (sore right hamstring) a late scratch for precautionary reasons and Stephon Castle (right hip tightness) sidelined for the second consecutive time, Spurs guard Dylan Harper received the first start of his career in Saturday’s win over Indiana, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News.
Harper, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, overcame some pregame jitters to finish with 24 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), four rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 28 minutes, Orsborn notes. Head coach Mitch Johnson praised Harper’s upside while pointing out that he committed four fouls and gave up a couple of backdoor layups to Andrew Nembhard.
“I think he can be sharper,” Johnson said. “I think he can continue to get in better shape. Those are nitpicking criticisms when you look at the production, but that’s how good he can be. … His upside and path is whatever he wants it to be. And I’m not trying to shine you on. I’m being dead serious. I just want him to be better at transition defense.”
As Orsborn observes, Harper almost certainly would have put up gaudier stats in his rookie season if he were playing on a lesser team, but Johnson and Harper’s teammates have praised the former Rutgers star for his maturity and willingness to accept a bench role for the betterment of the Spurs.
“We’re number two in the West,” said Harper, who turned 20 years old earlier this month. “To me, we’re the best team in the NBA. So for me to get drafted by an organization that’s so family oriented, I think any rookie would want to come here. From top to bottom, everyone is very professional and everyone is just so giving and so hands-on with everything.”
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- Johnson said after the victory that the Spurs don’t have any “long-term” concerns about Vassell’s injury, adding that the team was just being “super mindful” in regards to the sixth-year wing’s health (Twitter link via Orsborn). Johnson also said the Spurs weren’t worried about Castle’s hip issue, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News, who says more players might get days off down the stretch in preparation for the playoffs.
- McDonald wonders if Keldon Johnson is being overlooked as a Sixth Man of the Year contender. The veteran forward had 24 points (on 10-of-12 shooting), four rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes on Saturday, and has led the team in scoring five times this season. Johnson also has not yet missed a game in 2025/26.
- In another story for The Express-News, McDonald takes a look at the relationship of Mitch Johnson and Victor Wembanyama, who is making a late push for MVP consideration with his elite two-way play. Johnson used to help Wembanyama warm up before each game, but ceded those duties before the season began after being promoted to the full-time head coach. “There’s a level of accountability I have to hold him to,” Johnson said. “When you get to know somebody and then hopefully build trust with that person, it allows you to work with them, partner with them, push them in ways that I think probably could be a little bit deeper than just a coach trying to talk to a player.”
Spurs Notes: Barnes, Vassell, Sunday’s Game, Fox
The Spurs made a significant change to their starting lineup for Saturday afternoon’s game at Charlotte, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only story. Devin Vassell took the place of Harrison Barnes, who had his streak of 775 consecutive starts ended. It marked the first time Barnes has come off the bench since the 2015/16 season when he was with Golden State.
“We all occupy a role and the main focus is winning,” Barnes said. “So it’s just trying to figure out ways to impact the game, to still be vocal, to do my part, to help contribute to winning.”
Orsborn notes that Barnes has been mired in a slump, averaging just 6.8 PPG and shooting 26.7% from beyond the arc during January. Coach Mitch Johnson told reporters the move “isn’t a big deal,” adding that he’s hoping it will help Vassell and that Barnes accepted it well.
“We’ve had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, so it was just something as much as trying to get Devin back into his (starting) role that he had before and not a lot to it other than that,” Johnson said. “Just felt like Devin the last couple games didn’t quite find his rhythm, thought maybe that just getting him back to that starting lineup could maybe get him back in the fold.”
There’s more on the Spurs:
- Vassell scored 13 points while making his first start since December 29, but he’s not sure how long his new role is going to last, per Orsborn. He also logged a little more than 30 minutes in his third appearance since a 13-game absence caused by a groin injury. “I don’t know if that’s going to continue,” Vassell said. “I think we’re just trying out new stuff to see different lineups, different ways how to space the floor, so we’ll just see what happens with that. But I don’t know if it’s a permanent thing or not.”
- A snowstorm in Charlotte that moved up the starting time of Saturday’s game could also affect Sunday’s contest against the Magic, Orsborn states in a separate story. The Spurs are scheduled to host Orlando at 3 pm CT, but they’ll be spending the night in North Carolina after being unable to fly out. The team sat for two hours on its private plane before the airport was shut down. Orsborn suggests the game could be moved to Sunday night or possibly Monday as both teams have the day off.
- The acquisition of De’Aaron Fox shortly before last year’s trade deadline looks even better now, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News. He states that Spurs were able to add a starting point guard in exchange for Tre Jones, Zach Collins and Sidy Cissoko, who weren’t in their long-term plans, along with a package of draft assets that may not include a top-10 pick.
Spurs’ Devin Vassell Set To Return Sunday
Spurs wing Devin Vassell, who has missed the team’s past 13 games due to a left adductor strain, is set to return on Sunday against New Orleans, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News.
Vassell was a full participant in Saturday’s practice and expects to be on a minutes limit in his first appearance since December 29.
“I don’t know what the minutes will look like, but I am definitely excited to be out there,” he said. “I don’t think the minutes restriction will be too crazy, but you just have to be cautious with this type of injury. I haven’t played for like a month, so I still have to work my way back into shape. But I’m ready to go.”
A native of Georgia, Vassell started each of San Antonio’s 32 games to open the 2025/26 campaign prior to suffering the injury. The 25-year-old guard/forward averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.9 minutes per contest while shooting 37.9% from three-point range.
According to Orsborn, Vassell is glad he decided not to rush back from the groin injury before he was fully healthy.
“With an injury like this, you don’t want to come back and then have to sit out again because it starts nagging you,” Vassell said. “I’ve been getting some good workouts in with my guys and I just feel good. I’m ready to go. But it’s definitely tough whenever you have to sit out and watch your teammates play. You feel like you can help. It always tests you mentally, for sure.”
The Spurs, who hold an overall record of 31-14, went 8-5 in Vassell’s absence, Orsborn notes.
Devin Vassell To Miss Time With Left Adductor Strain
Spurs wing Devin Vassell recently underwent an MRI which confirmed he has a left adductor strain, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link via Marc J. Spears of Andscape).
Vassell, a sixth-year guard/forward who played two seasons of college ball at Florida State, suffered the injury in Monday’s loss to Cleveland.
While the Spurs didn’t specify how much time Vassell will miss due to the strained adductor, head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters ahead of Friday’s game at Indiana that the 25-year-old’s return isn’t imminent, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News.
“That will be more than a few games,” Johnson said. “Just kind of have to continue to see how he ramps up and feels. … We are encouraged by it in terms of, it should not be something that will be nagging him for the year. We just want to get him all the way right.”
Vassell started each of San Antonio’s first 32 games of 2025/26 prior to sitting out Wednesday’s win over New York. He’s averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.9 minutes per game while shooting 37.9% from three-point range.
Johnson was more optimistic regarding Victor Wembanyama‘s injury prognosis, McDonald adds. Johnson confirmed the team’s star center is considered day-to-day and didn’t rule out the possibility of Wembanyama suiting up on Saturday vs. Portland.
“It’s too quick to say for sure,” Johnson said. “But we’re encouraged by what we’ve seen.”
Spurs’ Wembanyama Out Friday, Considered Day-To-Day
Victor Wembanyama underwent an MRI on Thursday which confirmed the Spurs‘ star center did not suffer any ligament damage to his hyperextended left knee, reports Michael C. Wright of ESPN.
Wembanyama sustained the injury early in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s two-point victory over New York.
The French big man has been ruled out of Friday’s game at Indianapolis, as he didn’t travel with the team. However, Wembanyama may not be out long — Wright hears the former No. 1 overall pick will be listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest vs. Portland and is considered day-to-day.
Wembanyama, whose official injury designation is left knee soreness, is hoping to return to action within the next week, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Friday will mark Wembanyama’s 13th absence of the season after he previously missed time with a calf strain. On Thursday night, Maxime Aubin of French outlet L’Équipe asked Wembanyama for his thoughts regarding the 65-game rule for players to qualify for major postseason awards (Twitter link).
“I don’t dislike that rule,” Wembanyama replied. “And yes, of course it’s in my mind, even if it’s not the first thing I think about. But I also know the Spurs’ medical staff will do their job regardless of that. That’s what we expect from them, and they’re very good at staying objective.”
Starting wing Devin Vassell will also be out Friday, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Vassell is expected to miss multiple games with a left adductor strain.