Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson may only be 25 years old, but he is the longest-tenured player on the team and has finally begun to play consistently.
Johnson’s effort was never in question, but his production was often all over the place. One game, he could go 7-11 from the field, drill a couple of threes, and a couple of free throws en route to 18 points off the bench. The next couple of games, he might not combine to score 18, making him incredibly frustrating.
Fortunately, his play thus far has been exactly what Spurs fans skeptical about his game have been waiting for. He has been more consistent than he was last season right out of the gate, with his high-energy play helping to energize the bench.
His physicality and hustle have been a much-needed boost, with him not afraid to crash the offensive glass, getting easy buckets simply by out-hustling the other team. Then there are the bruising drives to the basket with him overpowering his man to finish in the paint, helping him shoot an absurd 66.7% on 2-pointers.
Better still, his 3-point has seemingly bounced back—which is a huge development that can’t be understated. He shot the ball very well from deep in the preseason, and that has carried over to the regular season, causing his efficiency to skyrocket.
This is the Keldon Johnson the Spurs have been waiting for
To be fair to Johnson, he was terrific during the second half of last season, averaging 14.8 points on 61.3% true shooting in just 25.1 minutes per game. However, what could set his play apart this season is that he isn’t waiting for the second half of the season to play this well.
That is not to mention that he shot just 31.8% from three last season but 54.5% from three this season. Obviously, his high-arcing 3-point shot will come back down to earth. But if he can shoot above average from outside, then combined with his ridiculous efficiency inside the arc, it could make him all the more impactful.
Defensively, Johnson is known for playing hard, even if his effort doesn’t always lead to stops. However, through the Spurs’ first four games, he has the lowest defensive field goal percentage in the NBA.
That obviously has a lot to do with him playing alongside Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, or even both, but it speaks to his improved play. Having Johnson make a positive impact on both ends is a game-changer, with him suddenly looking like a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
That would be quite the turnaround for Johnson, who was previously a full-time starter. and struggled with consistency off the bench. It would also mean that he has found a key role on a team that appears poised to contend this season.
