The Charlotte Hornets recently announced that they had filled their final two-way roster spot, handing it to former Thunder guard Keyontae Johnson.
Yes, we stole another piece away from Oklahoma City.
Keyontae Johnson was one of the more heartwarming prospects of the 2023 draft class, after he collapsed on the court during his junior season, citing a heart condition. Johnson was offered $500 thousand dollars from his insurance company, with the condition that he could never play competitive basketball again.
Johnson, who never stopped believing in himself, turned down the money, knowing that he had it in him to make it to the NBA. And here we are, two NBA contracts later; seems like he made the right move.
So what will the Norfolk native bring to the court for the Charlotte Hornets this season?
Well, for starters, he is an elite positional rebounder. Standing at 6’6”, Johnson possesses plenty of bulk and length that allows him to push his way through his NBA counterparts and secure the board.
He makes use of his combination of length, strength and athleticism to guard multiple positions. Naturally a wing, Johnson is able to slide down and defend guards, but also possesses the ability to get inside and pound it out with the NBA’s biggest.
He is at his best in transition, pushing the break with plenty of macho. When getting downhill, he can score at a high level, making use of his athleticism. But he also possesses the court vision and playmaking capabilities to dish it off to the better option.
He is a strong shooter from beyond the arc, with a quick release and a smooth jump shot that allows him to pull up from well beyond the three point line. He is also a fantastic free throw shooter; when he gets to the line, you may as well just count it as two.
However, he does have a tendency to take ill-advised mid range shots at times, yet he has gotten better at controlling that urge over the course of his career.
I wouldn’t expect Johnson to get a whole stack of minutes to start the year. With that said, I do believe he is well in the Hornets plans. If he can show what he is all about in practice between now and the trade deadline, he may very well get converted to a standard contract and start getting more playing time, as the roster gets reshuffled.
Image: Sports Illustrated
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