Spurs Forward Keldon Johnson Has 'All-Star Upside'

Keldon Johnson could be representing the San Antonio Spurs in an All-Star Game very soon if he continues to play at the level he's at.
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The San Antonio Spurs are lucky to have Keldon Johnson on the team. Not only are they lucky that they drafted him, but they are even more fortunate that Johnson wants to stick around even though the team is in the early stages of a rebuild.

The four-year extension worth $74 million he signed last offseason kicks in for the 2023-24 season, and he's hoping to ensure that he was worth every penny. Considering the trajectory he's been on since he was drafted with the No. 29 pick in 2019, there's a chance that could even be a value contract.

His ascension from measly role player to the highest-paid contract on the team is why he is ranked No. 89 on The Ringer's Top 125 updated rankings.

"Johnson isn’t a household name yet, but Spurs fans have seen him develop from a raw talent who could torpedo his way to the basket into a well-rounded player with All-Star upside," The Ringer writes. "After entering the NBA as a decisive, downhill scorer with average passing vision, he now routinely makes skip passes to corner 3-point shooters or hits floaters and midrange pull-ups. In recent years, he’s even hit 3s off the dribble. And he does it all with great efficiency, taking quality shots within the flow of the offense and delivering on-target passes and limiting turnovers. A Gregg Popovich offensive system requires ball-sharing, and Johnson also excels off the ball as one of the league’s most potent catch-and-shoot threats from deep."

His 22 points per game this past season marked a career-high and made it three straight years where his average grew. But what makes Johnson a great player instead of a good one is his defensive impact.

"On defense, he’s a tone-setter who will dive for loose balls, take a charge, or fly out of nowhere for defensive boards," The Ringer writes. "But just like in college, Johnson still loses track of his man when defending off-ball. Still, that’s a nit-picky weakness when he has so many reliable defensive qualities. Trimming 21 pounds before the 2022-23 season has made him a more shifty defender and slithery driver. And he has the drive to get even better and continue honing his championship-caliber qualities."

As the top dog in San Antonio, Johnson has a unique opportunity to grow even more. At just 23 years old, Johnson will have an opportunity for another big contract or two down the line in his career if his numbers are still at an elite level. He may not be the No. 1 option for much longer as the Spurs accrue top picks, but Johnson probably has the best chance out of everyone currently on the roster to be a contributor for the next great team in San Antonio.


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.