How to watch San Antonio-Oklahoma City Game 6, and why Seattle cares

Washington basketball fans might have a reason to root for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference finals this year, playing Game 6 of a best-of-seven series Thursday, May 28 in Texas. And not just because of what happened when the SuperSonics left Seattle in 2008.

The Spurs coaching staff have surprisingly deep roots in Seattle.

Head coach Mitch Johnson was born and raised in Seattle, and his father John Johnson played 12 NBA seasons and won a Championship with the SuperSonics. The younger Johnson attend O’Dea High School in Seattle, where he won back-to-back state basketball championships in 2004 and 2005. According to the Seattle Times, Johnson went 67-18 during his three years as a start at O’Dea and scored 27 points in the 2004 state title game.

Johnson began his coaching career with a youth league team, AAU’s Rotary Seattle, and later served as an assistant coach at the University of Portland for one season.

The Spurs also have a former SuperSonics player on staff in Rashard Lewis, a two-time NBA All-Star who appeared in more than 600 games for Seattle over the course of his 16-year career.

Who is Mitch Johnson?

Mitch Johnson has been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs since May 2025, after legendary coach Gregg Popovich stepped down and moved into a different role within the organization. Johnson began working as an assistant with Popovich in 2019 and has been with the Spurs since 2016.

According to ESPN, Johnson played college basketball at Stanford for four seasons. He was a member of the team that appeared in the Sweet Sixteen at the 2008 NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Johnson is the son of John Johnson, a two-time NBA All Star and member of the Seattle SuperSonics team that won an NBA Championship in 1979. The elder Johnson died in 2016.

How are the OKC Thunder connected to Seattle?

In 2008, the Seattle SuperSonics organization moved to Oklahoma City and rebranded as the Thunder. Kevin Durant, an NBA MVP and two-time Champion, was drafted by the Sonics in 2007.

Are the SuperSonics returning to Seattle?

Right now, it’s unclear if the SuperSonics will return to Seattle.

But there is a possibility that the team comes back — ownership groups are forming and the NBA has moved towards “exploring expansion” in the markets of Seattle and Las Vegas.

The NBA’s decision on league expansion may not come until the end of 2026, according to the Seattle Times.

How can I watch the NBA Western Conference finals?

All games will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Game times listed are in PST.

Game 1 at Oklahoma City: Monday, May 18, 5:30 p.m. (Spurs won, 122-115)

Game 2 at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, May 20, 5:30 p.m. (Thunder won, 122-113)

Game 3 at San Antonio: Friday, May 22, 5:30 p.m. (Thunder won, 123-108)

Game 4 at San Antonio: Sunday, May 24, 5 p.m. (Spurs won, 103-82)

Game 5 at Oklahoma City: Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 p.m. (Thunder won, 127-114))

Game 6 at San Antonio: Thursday, May 28, 5:30 p.m.

*Game 7 at Oklahoma City: Saturday, May 30, 5 p.m. (if necessary)

Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Spurs-Thunder NBA conference finals includes Seattle basketball

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