Player Name: Keldon Johnson
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Years Pro: 2
Draft: 2019, First Round #29
Number of Top Shot Moments: 5
Fun Fact: Johnson says he wears jersey #3 because he was the third child in his family and was a big Chris Paul fan growing up.
This is #3 in a series where I will highlight some of the best young players in the NBA to add to your Top Shot collection who you might not have heard much about. No, I’m not talking about your Lebrons, your Lukas, or your Currys, I’m talking about emerging stars whose popularity should only continue to rise in the years to come.
Keldon Johnson is a small forward for the San Antonio Spurs. He’s still very young and has a lot to figure out, but he has some of the most electric dunks you’ll see. His 6’9 wingspan allows him to be a very scrappy defender at the forward position despite only being 6’5.
Johnson averaged 12.8 points this season on 48% from the field and 33% from three, which is pretty solid for a younger talent in the league. His athleticism is probably his most deadly weapon on offense. His quick first step and his strength allows for quick drives that end in spectacular finishes through contact.
Johnson’s defense has been pretty solid in the NBA so far, not really anything special. However, with the added length he possesses in his wingspan there’s no telling how good of a defender he can one day become if he’s willing to put in the work. He just needs to figure out how to correctly use his strength and length on the defensive end.
My favorite Top Shot moment of Johnson’s is his Throwdowns Series 2 moment where he climbs the ladder to meet Pistons rookie Isiah Stewart for the poster. It really displays his quick bounce and his explosiveness. It’s lowest price as of this article is $66.
If there is any Johnson moment I would love to see added to NBA Top Shot, it would have to be his incredibly speedy dunk against the Orlando Magic (#NBATopShotThis). During a halfcourt set, he sees a lane open up and just runs straight down the middle for an explosive slam. It’s a moment that really shows off his ability to drive and his elite quick first step.
Johnson has plenty of areas to improve, like his three-point shooting and figuring out how to use his length on defense. Nonetheless, he is still very young at only 21 years old, and with him already putting down vicious slams, there’s not much that can stop him from becoming an elite player in this league.
