LAS VEGAS — To get his contract, Keon Johnson has needed to get out of the mindset of attempting to get his.
The younger wing has matured from his rookie season in Portland, when present Brooklyn assistant Steve Hetzel first coached him.
He’s matured much more since final season with the Nets, most of it spent within the G-League.
Friday’s under-control efficiency — full with a troublesome game-winner — was proof that maturation remains to be ongoing.
And a terrific step for an unrestricted free agent attempting to earn one other contract with Brooklyn.
“Glad. I’m very completely satisfied. It’s progress; he’s maturing as a participant,” mentioned Hetzel, a Nets assistant serving as head coach for Las Vegas Summer season League. “The sport is slowing down for him, which is permitting him to decelerate on the courtroom and he’s making these constructive performs.”
Johnson had 16 factors and 6 assists in Friday’s 97-95 summer season league-opening victory over Indiana, together with a contested baseline turnaround to win it.
However that maturation has been evident in different methods, together with Johnson’s willingness to defend and do the soiled work.
He’s uber-athletic, but is studying to not solely play extra beneath management however to suit right into a crew idea offensively.
“In Lengthy Island, he had stretches the place he was in a mindset of, ‘I’m attempting to get mine.’ That’s the place he’s progressed probably the most, is attempting to make the fitting play extra than simply rating,” mentioned Noah Clowney, who performed alongside Johnson within the G-League.
“And also you watch the sport [Friday], he tried to make loads of the fitting performs, after which being the perfect defender on the crew. You’ve bought to be the most effective defenders if you wish to play. If you wish to play, you wish to get minutes, you’ve bought to defend.”
Johnson did that, grabbing 5 rebounds, blocking three photographs and arising with a few steals.
Pairing higher protection along with his athletic presents on offense is one thing that each Hetzel and head coach Jordi Fernandez have harped on.
“For me, [Fernandez] is all the time type of reiterating being a canine on protection,” Johnson mentioned. “Coming in and simply enjoying with physicality. … He despatched me little tidbits from our practices and that we’ve bought to get higher at sure little issues. I really feel like we’ve proven that right here in the summertime league so far.”
Stated Jalen Wilson: “He was aggressive however beneath management. Together with his velocity, with the ability to elevate when he can, there’s so many various strikes to make. His mindset coming in, choosing up dudes 94 ft and on the alternative finish attending to the cup, making robust photographs just like the game-winning shot he had. His mindset’s been nice.”
The winner was a troublesome 12-footer on the baseline.
The competition was good, however the execution was higher.
Johnson — signed on a two-way deal final season — made simply 5 cameos for Brooklyn.
However he confirmed offensive flashes with Lengthy Island, averaging 18.2 factors, 6.4 rebounds on .478/.379/.803 capturing splits in 26 G-League video games.
Johnson averaged 16.7 factors in 15 extra Showcase Cup video games.
“I really feel prefer it’s getting just a little bit slower for me, however I really feel like I’m beginning to put myself in higher positions the place I can present what I can do with the ball in my fingers and in addition enjoying off the ball,” Johnson mentioned. “Every day this summer season, I’ve been always getting higher at enjoying off the ball and simply enjoying with house. And right here in the summertime league, I’ll be capable of present that lots.”
He hopes sufficient to earn a return to Brooklyn, two-way or in any other case.
“Proper now I’m simply actually centered on summer season league. That is the one alternative that I do know I’ve proper now,” Johnson mentioned. “So I’m simply actually centered on enjoying summer season league and simply displaying what I can do. And hopefully I’ll be right here. However simply giving myself the perfect alternative for my profession.”
The Nets aren’t anticipated so as to add to their entrance workplace.
However BJ Johnson — who has run the draft as director of participant analysis — is amongst a number of execs anticipated to get inside promotions, a supply instructed The Put up.
