Thunder’s Mark Daigneault sends sincere message to Mitch Johnson before Game 4

With the Oklahoma City Thunder preparing for Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, head coach Mark Daigneault shouts out his opponent, Mitch Johnson. As the Thunder can’t take it lightly against the Spurs, as the team is up 2-1 in the series, Daigneault pays his respects to Johnson before Game 4.

Oklahoma City and San Antonio were the first and second-seeded teams in the Western Conference, with some arguing that both are the two best teams in the NBA, as from one head coach to another, it’s all respect. Daigneault would speak on how Johnson is in a “very high-profile situation” and has handled it with class.

“I got tremendous respect for Mitch,” Daigneault said, via Spurs Nation. “I’ve known him a long time. We were in the G League together. Always respected his character, his professionalism, even just watching him from a distance operate. Obviously, you know, he’s a head coach that’s in a very high-profile situation, because of this early success of the team, and he handles it with class and grace, and competence. So, I’ve got tremendous respect for him, their staff, their organization, their team.

“I mean, it’s like the players, there’s no place you’d rather be this time of year than playing in these games,” Daigneault continued. “There’s only four teams left playing right now, and it’s the height of competition, it’s the height of challenges. There’s a lot of times where you’re going to take punches when you’re in the conference finals, you’re playing against another great team, but it’s much better to be in the ring than not. So, we try to embrace it as a team, me included, our staff included.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, on Mitch Johnson: “I’ve always respected his character, his professionalism. … Obviously he’s a head coach that’s in a very high-profile situation because of the early success of the team, and he handles it with class, and grace, and competence.” pic.twitter.com/0nT06FbKkm

— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) May 24, 2026

At any rate, while respect is shared, the Thunder look to go up 3-2 in the series against the Spurs.

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