Keon Johnson was looking for an NBA job when he joined the Brooklyn Nets in the recently concluded Las Vegas Summer League, and after showing out, he got what he deserved.
After averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in four Summer League games in Las Vegas, Keon Johnson reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Johnson’s contract is partially guaranteed for 2024-25 and has a team option for 2025-26.
Johnson’s signing comes after the Brooklyn Nets acquired Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick from the Memphis Grizzlies for Mamadi Diakite.
The New York Knicks drafted the 22-year-old swingman with the No. 21 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Quentin Grimes.
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The Tennessee product was then moved to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the Norman Powell trade and to the Phoenix Suns in the Damian Lillard megadeal before he was eventually cut.
Keon Johnson signed with the Brooklyn Nets as a two-way player in November and spent much of 2023-24 with the team’s G League squad, the Long Island Nets. In his five games as a Brooklyn Net, Johnson averaged 6.2 points per game.
Keon Johnson will fight for his minutes with the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are entering its rebuilding phase, opening an opportunity for Keon Johnson to establish himself within the team. He’ll fight for playing time on the backcourt with Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas, Shake Milton, and Ben Simmons present.
“I feel like I’ve made a decent impression,” Johnson said via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “It’s a lot of room to grow. But I’ve seen on the film where (there have) been multiple times where I can show my stamp on the game more, and I feel like each day I’ve kind of progressed and got better at that.”
“I think Keon could be a nightmare defensively,” added Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, who was the head coach of the Summer League squad.
