The projected lottery pick at one time that season ended up in the hands of the Spurs at pick 29, a steal by many expert calculations. Many believed his shortcomings were all teachable, while many of his strengths were very unique. The kid from Virginia was entering the NBA as one of the most promising prospects in the class and it’s safe to say his game has transferred over well. Johnson’s draft profile listed a couple of problems with his game, highlighted by his hesitant shooting and lack of defensive production. The lack of production on the defensive end wasn’t a question of his ability on defense, but rather jumping on the opportunities to grab blocks and steals. His shooting problems stemmed from his resistance to taking shots, causing some turmoil on the offensive side of the ball for the entire team.
These weaknesses held Johnson back from being a top-end draft pick, but they haven’t held him back from being a developing star in the NBA.
Currently, Johnson is fifth on his team in field goals attempts per game (11.8), trailing only the big names like Demar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Rudy Gay.
