The San Antonio Spurs have been on a rebuild for the better part of a decade. Ever since the Kawhi Leonard trade, the team has been treading water, with brief highlights sprinkled here and there. However, with Victor Wembanyama ascending to a new level, 2025-26 finally seems like the year where they make their way back into the upper echelon of the Western Conference.
So far, even with the French superstar missing a huge chunk of the season, they have been right there with the best teams in the league, with an incredibly deep roster that is coming together by the day. However, for new head coach Mitch Johnson, there is only one player who deserves the “heart and soul” moniker on his roster.
Spurs Have Found Their Glue Guy After Win vs. Lakers
Without Wembanyama, the team has gone 9-3 over its last 12 to remain just one loss behind the second-seeded Denver Nuggets. In that stretch, they’ve had a variety of guys step up to lead them to victories. On some nights, it is last season’s trade acquisition De’Aaron Fox, or a Devin Vassell sighting that gets them over the hump. In their quarter-final victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, it was Stephon Castle who chipped in with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Even Harrison Barnes has shown flashes of excellence to help San Antonio keep their momentum without their best player. But the player who’s become the heart and soul of the team, according to Johnson, is a guy who gave up his spot in the starting lineup to Barnes.
That is, of course, Keldon Johnson, who’s been on the squad since 2019. A key piece of the puzzle for the Spurs, he has slotted in perfectly as a spark plug off the bench, with his consistency in the role improving by the day.
Extended to a four-year, $74 million contract in 2023, he’s averaging 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a blistering 57.5% from the field. His efficiency and willingness to sacrifice have certainly made a fan out of his head coach.
Speaking to reporters after the game, he gave the forward all the credit. “You see it all over the place. The kid’s just falling on the floor. He puts his body in harm’s way for the betterment of the team every game. He’s the heart and soul of the team.”
Mitch Johnson’s “heart and soul of the team” Keldon Johnson is going to the @emirates NBA Cup semis with one goal:
Go get that Llama! 🤠🏆💸 pic.twitter.com/DenbjQF6WM
— NBA (@NBA) December 11, 2025
Despite the “big personalities” and a “face of the franchise,” Johnson has carved out an invaluable role for himself in the locker room. That kind of commitment to the team has certainly helped out a young, new coach taking over from arguably the greatest head coach in NBA history.
With his hope to get a new Llama with the prize money from the NBA Cup, let’s hope Johnson can get it by the time the Finals come to a close.
