SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs will begin their annual Rodeo Road Trip tonight against the Heat.
It will be the first of nine road games during February, and like all trips that have come before it, it will be taxing on the team.
The traveling, hotel life, adjusting to different time zones, and being away from the friendly confines of the Frost Bank Center will be a challenge.
Fortunately, Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has enough experience dealing with the long road trip and is passing his wisdom on handling it to his teammates.
And his advice begins with ensuring the team's physical health is at peak performance.
“Take care of your bodies," he said.
The road trip covers 8,580 miles and includes a stop in Canada against the Raptors. Also, it includes dates against some of the top NBA teams, like Dallas and Minnesota.
It also includes an opportunity for the team to come together, just like in past Rodeo Trips, and Johnson wants the team to focus on the positives as well.
"I have no worries about this group. We're pretty close," he said. "So, I feel like we'll probably be doing everything together while we're on the road and enjoying each other and things like that."
Johnson has gone through five Rodeo Road Trips, so he knows a thing or two about handling the long excursion away from San Antonio as the Stock Show and Rodeo takes over the Frost Bank Center.
He'll happily be there for first-timer Victor Wembanyama should he need advice on getting through it.
"I've heard of it, and I've seen it, of course," said rookie Victor Wembanyama who'll be making his first Rodeo Trip. "Just getting all these away games, and it is going to be special being away for so long."
The Spurs will face stiff competition on the road, going up against the Heat, Magic, Nets, Raptors, Mavericks, Kings, Lakers, Jazz, and wrapping up versus the Timberwolves.
The team will have to lean on one another and Johnson believes the time away from the court during the trip will help the team stay close.
"I think we all have each other's backs. Whether it's playing a video game or going to get team dinner and things like that," said Johnson.
The Spurs went 1-8 during last season's Rodeo Road Trip and they'll be looking to come out of the trip with a better record this season.
And with a tough slate of games ahead, Johnson's focus on team bonding and enjoying each other's company hopefully will lend to a fruitful outcome when the team returns to San Antonio on Feb. 29.
"I think that we will make it fly by pretty quickly," Johnson added.