Injuries, in addition to trades and other roster fluctuations begets surprising opportunities. Arguably, no other Brooklyn Nets player has taken advantage of the aforementioned circumstances more than fourth-year guard Keon Johnson.
The Shelbyville, Tennessee, native, who turned 23 earlier this week, was selected by the New York Knicks with the 21st pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and traded on the same night to the Los Angeles Clippers. Midway through his rookie season, Johnson, who played one season for the University of Tennessee, was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent a year and a half. Acquired by the Nets a season ago, Johnson continued to find his NBA footing in the league, ending the campaign having only started 12 games in his first three seasons. This season, the 6’5” guard has started a career-high 39 games and has been one of the Nets’ most reliable players, appearing in 61 of the team’s 64 games prior to the Nets, which were 22-42, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Tuesday. Only second-year forward Jalen Wilson has played more games (63 heading into Tuesday). Johnson was averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 23.8 minutes, his most as a pro in all three categories.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has used Johnson in various roles, and whether it’s coming off of the bench or starting (40 games before going up against the Cavs), he has eagerly accepted whatever the moment calls for. Earlier this season, Johnson seemingly foresaw a door opening that he was prepared to run through.
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“I understand that night in and night out, my role could change, but each night I just feel like [it] is a new opportunity to show some type of growth, whether it’s offensively or defensively.” he said back in January. “I tend to just forget about all the what ifs and what nots and just go out and play the game that I know.” On Monday night at the Barclays Center, the Nets ended a seven-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers, defeating them 111-108 while holding the team’s newly acquired superstar Luka Doncic to only 22 points on 8-26 shooting and forcing him into five turnovers — albeit with a triple double. The Lakers were without LeBron James, who is sidelined with a groin strain.
When the Nets stepped onto the court in Cleveland, they were 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls for 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the last play-in tournament spot. They have 17 games remaining in the regular season, playing the Bulls in Chicago tonight, hosting the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks on Saturday and Sunday respectively at the Barclays, before a rematch with the Celtics in Boston next Tuesday.