What happened: Billy Donovan has agreed to become the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, working under head coach Mitch Johnson, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Pete Thamel. The move follows 11 seasons in which Donovan served as an NBA head coach in Chicago and Oklahoma City. He joins a Spurs staff coming off a run to the Western Conference title.

Why it matters: Adding a coach with Donovan's head-coaching pedigree gives Mitch Johnson a seasoned voice on the bench as San Antonio looks to build on its conference championship. Donovan brings deep experience developing young cores and managing playoff rotations, an asset for a Spurs roster leaning on emerging talent. The hire signals the franchise is investing in its coaching infrastructure heading into the 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Watch for the Spurs to formally announce the addition and round out the rest of Johnson's staff ahead of training camp.