OKC Thunder Rookie Wing Earning Respect From his Teammates Prior to First NBA Game

One of Oklahoma City's 2023 draft picks has seemingly impressed his veteran teammates early in training camp.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to play their first game of the 2023 NBA season on Monday. 

While the regular season is still a couple of weeks away, OKC will meet the San Antonio Spurs on Monday for a preseason game that could feature two of the most intriguing prospects in the last two draft classes.

Oklahoma City's preseason game against the Spurs will also be the first NBA action for two of the Thunder's 2023 draft picks, Cason Wallace and Keyontae Johnson. 

On Sunday, OKC head coach Mark Daigneault met with the press and highlighted how much Johnson has impressed his teammates throughout training camp.

Daigneault praised Johnson for his work ethic, saying that the second-round pick "competes" and that he has earned the respect of his veteran teammates. 

"Things are moving fast for him, as they do (for rookies)," Daigneault said. 

Johnson continuing to have a strong work ethic is not surprising, as the rookie wing made an incredible comeback in college basketball after collapsing on the court while playing for the Florida Gators.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward returned to the court after transferring to Kansas State, where he averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal per game as a redshirt senior in 2022.

After being selected with the No. 50 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Johnson has seemingly had a solid offseason with the Thunder so far. As a two-way player, Johnson will likely spend the majority of his rookie year in the G League. 

Still, if the skilled finisher is able to develop quickly on the Blue, he could get a shot in the Thunder's rotation if the team deals with injuries on the wing. Johnson's strength and size make him a versatile option who can play a variety of roles, similar to Aaron Wiggins.

If Johnson does turn into an impactful piece of the team, Sam Presti will have found another steal late in the draft.

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