In the 2024 draft, the Bucks used the No. 23 pick to select AJ Johnson from the NBL's Illawarra Hawks.
AJ Johnson played in 29 games for the team in the 2023-24 season, averaging 2.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 8.2 minutes per game, shooting 35.5% from the field, 27.8% from three-point range and 53.8% from the free throw line.
Date of birth: 1 December 2004
Position: Shooting Guard/Point Guard
Team: NBL Illawarra Hawks
Height: 6'4.25" (1.94m)
Weight: 167 lbs (76 kg) (2nd lightest in this session)
Reach: 6 shaku 8.5 sun (2.04m)
merit
During his time in the NBL for the Illawarra Hawks, Johnson improved a lot. The 1.98m-tall defender has shown his ability to play alongside experienced professionals.
AJ Johnson is not only methodical in organizing the offense, but also commendable in scoring ability, and has repeatedly helped the team in key moments. His all-round performance on the field became an important driving force for the old Illawarra Eagles to achieve great results.
AJ Johnson is about 198cm tall, and his superb ball handling skills make him an all-around fighter in this draft. Not only can he create opportunities for himself, but he can also deliver shells to his teammates, and he is an all-rounder on the offensive end.
His athleticism and agility allowed AJ Johnson to move freely around the court, easily getting away from defense and completing layups. In the transition fast attack, he is even more like a fish in water, repeatedly performing jaw-dropping wonderful shots, igniting the passion of the team and winning the applause of the audience.
Johnson's basketball IQ is also outstanding, and he is always able to find open teammates and deliver accurate assists under pressure. Defensively, his size and pace allow him to tackle defensive tasks in multiple positions, showing his all-around side defensively.
shortcoming
Despite his many bright spots, AJ Johnson still needs to improve his basketball career.
First, the consistency of AJ Johnson's shooting, especially long-range three-point shooting, needs to be improved. If he can take his outside shooting to the next level, he will be an offensive threat that opponents can't ignore.
At the same time, Johnson's sometimes overly aggressive approach translates into mistakes. In high-pressure situations, how to make calm and precise decisions is crucial to the future of his basketball career. Learning to be patient and make smarter choices on the ball will help him make fewer mistakes and improve control of the game.
Defensively, Johnson's off-ball defensive awareness also needs to be strengthened. While he has what it takes to be a good defensive player, he needs to be more focused and learn to make quick and accurate predictions when defending. Deepening his understanding of defensive tactics and improving communication with his teammates will make him more reliable on the defensive end.
These shortcomings are the path that every young player must take when they first enter the NBA. With the accumulation of game experience and the guidance of the coaching team, Johnson has full potential to overcome these shortcomings and improve his competitive level.
Draft templates
Johnson's combination of size, technique and athleticism is reminiscent of players like Sean Livingston and Caris LeVert. Like Livingston, he can play in multiple positions and influence the game in a variety of ways.
At the same time, his talent in ball control and playmaking is somewhat similar to LeVert's, which bodes well for him as a promising rookie with a lot of hope and potential.
However, Johnson hasn't been given many opportunities to show himself in the NBL, so at the moment, he is more of a so-called potential in terms of ball handling, passing and jumpers, and the Bucks' option seems a bit out of step with the current championship plan.
#头条创作挑战赛#