San Antonio Spurs Season Preview: How Does Keldon Johnson Step Up This Season?

Ahead of his fifth NBA season, San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is primed to either have a breakout season or fall into the shadow cast by his 7-4 rookie teammate, and safe to say, he prefers the former.

Keldon Johnson has never been a step behind his teammates on the San Antonio Spurs. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. 

The now-veteran forward has played alongside talent like DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and even Patty Mills, but for a 29th overall pick, Johnson impressed. 

In his rookie season, Johnson averaged 9.1 points, 3.4 assists and 0.9 stocks — figures that have all improved throughout his career. Last season, Johnson became a 20-point per game scorer while adding five rebounds and nearly three assists on top of it, marking his most productive season to date. 

But he's not finished yet. Now, he's eyeing an even stronger improvement.

"I'm definitely excited," Johnson said. "We're ready to work. We've been working all summer. ... I've grown a lot. I've put a lot of hard work and time into my body and my craft, so I'm ready. I'm excited to prove all the doubters wrong."

Oct 16, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) celebrates a shot in the second half against the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center / © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson enters this season as the Spurs' leading scorer — 4.5 points per game ahead of Devin Vassell — and as such, the pressure will be on. Alongside Victor Wembanyama, Johnson has the chance to either take the next step in his game or fall back into the 7-4 shadow cast by the French phenom. 

The former certainly seems like his preferred option.

"I'm always excited to learn as a player," Johnson said. "For me, I feel like it's about showing that I can defend. I'm an elite defender, and that's the part of my game I'm ready to show off."

Adding defense to his already-impressive offense only makes Johnson even more dangerous. At the peak of his game — especially if it continues to trend upward — the Spurs forward has the potential to be an All-Star, which shouldn't come as a surprise for a player of his caliber. But for Johnson, it won't just come down to himself. 

"I believe in everybody that steps on the court with me," Johnson said. "We spend so much time together, put in [work] together. We're together all of the time." 

Being together, that is, remaining healthy and consistent, will be huge this season for San Antonio. Adding some new faces via trade and the NBA Draft gives the Spurs a different look than last season, but amidst some of that change, Johnson remains.

He's been the best player on the Spurs for quite some time now. That may no longer be the case soon, but that doesn't make him any less crucial to his team's vision.

And he's ready for that. "Doubters" beware.