LAS VEGAS — Keon Johnson got here to Las Vegas as an unrestricted free agent and is utilizing Summer time League as a job interview.
He’s achieved nothing however make a superb impression, on each ends of the ground.
“I really feel like I’ve made a good impression,” stated Johnson, who was on a two-way contract with Brooklyn final season. “It’s loads of room to develop. However I’ve seen on the movie the place [there have] been a number of occasions the place I can present my stamp on the sport extra, and I really feel like every day I’ve sort of progressed and acquired higher at that.”
Johnson will enter Thursday’s recreation averaging 17.7 factors by means of his first three contests with the Nets.
Although Brooklyn common supervisor Sean Marks and new head coach Jordi Fernandez haven’t but commented publicly on Johnson’s progress, assistant coach Steve Hetzel — tasked with being the top coach of the Summer time League group — gushed over the younger wing.
“I’m more than happy,” Hetzel stated. “I like Keon. I’ve identified him for some time now. It’s been superior to look at his development as an individual and a participant and I simply love the truth that he’s attending to showcase all of the issues that he’s labored on and on a regular basis that he spent within the fitness center to get to this place.”
Hetzel was an assistant in Portland when Johnson was a rookie.
He’s praised the 22-year-old’s development and maturation since then, and as greater than only a scorer.
Thus far in Las Vegas, Johnson has averaged 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists and infrequently guarded probably the most harmful opposing perimeter participant.
He stayed in entrance of Knicks rookie level guard Tyler Kolek within the second quarter of Tuesday’s come-from-behind victory, and compelled a number of turnovers.
After notching 13 steals in his first 11 profession Summer time League video games, Johnson already has six in simply three video games this 12 months.
And after coming into this Summer time League with solely 4 blocks, he’s already rejected three.
“I feel Keon could possibly be a nightmare defensively,” Hetzel stated. “We challenged him to be the best possible defender out right here in Summer time League and he’s taking the problem. He’s an unbelievable athlete, however he couldn’t actually sit down and guard.”
That athleticism was Johnson’s ticket to the league.
His staggering 48-inch vertical leap remains to be an all-time report on the NBA Draft Mix.
However Hetzel has pushed Johnson to make use of that elite athleticism to higher impact, and the wing stated that confidence has helped his personal self-belief on that finish of the ground.
“Oh yeah, it actually [made] me extra snug on the court docket, simply studying how I can depart my imprint on the sport,” Johnson stated.
“I really feel like, man, simply each time I step on the court docket, I’m making an attempt to indicate that I’m that canine that coach has sort of put that label on me and sort of put different guys round me to do the identical factor with me. However yeah, I really feel like each time I are available in and present that canine such as you stated, it sort of takes up our stage of play.”
Johnson is eligible for an additional two-way contract from Brooklyn.
For his half, he says he hasn’t gotten any suggestions instantly from Marks but, however feels just like the strides he’s made in Las Vegas could be carried over to the NBA.
“I imply, I really feel like every part that I’m doing out there may be fully translated to what I might be doing on the principle court docket, so far as taking part in protection, spacing the court docket and making open pictures,” Johnson stated. “After which each time I do have the ball in my fingers, simply making easy reads. I really feel like every single day in Summer time League I’ve sort of been displaying that, and hopefully after Summer time League, I’ll have the ability to do the identical factor.”
Nets main scorer Cam Thomas switched brokers and is now being represented by Alex Saratsis of Octagon, The Publish has realized.
Thomas is extension eligible, or Brooklyn can wait, give him a qualifying provide subsequent 12 months and make him a restricted free agent in 2025.
