Dusty Garza
A respected player development coach who has worked with many of the league’s top players once shared that one of the biggest adjustments players have to make during their career is going from being “the man” – wherever they came from before they were rookies- to becoming a piece in the machine known as the NBA Team.
Many young players come from high school or college programs where the offense flowed through them, where they were often called upon to be in the driver’s seat as games and seasons progressed.
Once they get into the league, the majority of them have to adjust to doing more of what their team and coaches require of them. Whether that be simply protecting and getting the ball to veterans who have offensive sets flowing through them, getting as many rebounds as they can defensively, perhaps setting solid screens, playing great defense, or moving effectively without the ball.
In Keldon Johnson’s case, since the arrival of Victor Wembanyama and the surge of Devin Vassell, he has had to adjust from being “the man” in San Antonio to now coming off the bench and contributing in different ways. That’s not to say that offensive sets don’t flow through him anymore, in fact, he’s still asked to provide scoring punch and energy off the bench in a similar way that Manu Ginobili did during the team’s dynasty years.
Still, the days when Johnson was the last one announced during the starting lineups to the loudest cheers have passed. It’s a subtle change that may have gone unnoticed, but for a player who was once one of the country’s most sought-after high school recruits it has, undoubtedly, been a mental adjustment.
There were moments during Johnson’s high school career when he was considered one of the top 10 prospects in the nation by some collegiate evaluators. Johnson went from playing at Oak Hill Academy- a school known for producing top basketball talent- to committing to the University of Kentucky as a significant addition to their roster- joining other notable recruits like Immanuel Quickley, P.J. Washington, and Tyler Herro. John Calipari, his coach at Kentucky, is known for his exceptional ability to not only recruit top talent but also turn those players into very valuable professionals.
Keldon Johnson has been grinding all summer, and he’s about to unleash a whole new level of strength, conditioning and basketball. Doubters can doubt but he’s coming back stronger and better than ever! 💪🔥Dropping details later today. #NBA #PorVida #HardWorkPaysOff pic.twitter.com/CLjioaZNis
— SpursRΞPORT (@SpursReporter) August 28, 2024
Johnson played only one season for the Wildcats, who advanced to the Elite Eight during that 2018-19 season. He declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman year and was subsequently selected by the Spurs who saw him drop all the way to the 29th overall pick in a 2019 Draft class that was deep with talent.
At the time, some scouts questioned whether Johnson’s athleticism would translate to the NBA, others noted that Johnson needed to improve certain aspects of his game. While Johnson showed flashes of brilliance, there were concerns about his consistency, particularly in his shooting and decision-making. He was seen as a good all-around player but not exceptional in any one area. Still, the Spurs felt differently when they decided to draft him.
Johnson was in his second year in the NBA when he was invited to join Team USA for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. He replaced Bradley Beal on the roster, but made a strong impression during the team’s exhibition games and ultimately helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Olympics that summer.
This past summer, there was one trade rumor after another that appeared to show that San Antonio had perhaps lost interest in him. Those rumblings have never been confirmed by team officials, but it hasn’t stopped fueling speculation. It didn’t help when reports surfaced late last season that the only player considered “untouchable” in trade discussions is Victor Wembanyama. It’s not unusual for every NBA team to have an “untouchable” on their roster and trade discussions happen all the time, but doubt seems to enter through doors like that.
Johnson had shown significant growth and potential since entering the league but for the first time last season, his scoring average decreased. Unforgiving Spurs fans seemed to turn on Johnson, not showing any consideration for the fact that he was playing fewer minutes and that his overall contributions in rebounds and assists remained solid.
Rather than focus on negativity or factors that he couldn’t control, Johnson decided to keep his head down and do what his very supportive parents and coaches like John Calipari always taught him.: Take charge of the things you can control.
As soon as the season was over, Johnson hired Aaron Miller- a well-respected coach who has worked with Jimmy Butler, Malik Beasley, Cam Whitmore, and dozens of other NBA players- to help elevate his game. The two spent time at UTSA working not only on improving basketball skills like shooting and ball handling but also on mental resilience and confidence. Miller is particularly known for incorporating drills and exercises that challenge players mentally, preparing them to handle pressure and adversity on the court.
Perhaps more importantly, Keldon began working with former Dallas Cowboys player Bremond “Bay Bay” McClinton who once served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the San Antonio Spurs for five years. Johnson’s older brother, Kaleb who played basketball at Georgetown and last season for the Austin Spurs of the G-League, had already been working closely with McClinton, but Johnson decided to join him too and the physical results to Keldon’s body are astounding. “Instead of ‘Big Body,’ we’re going to have to start calling him ‘Small Body,” said one Spurs fan.
What one can’t see, are some of Johnson’s less noticeable performance improvements. McClinton has had Johnson doing heavy underwater cardio work and under-the-hot-Texas-sun drills designed to improve his agility. Keldon also changed his diet and discipline. Two things that are not that easy to do- for anyone.
Most coaches want their players to come back to NBA training camp in somewhat relative shape, but Keldon has gone far beyond that.
He is not doing this for the fans, he’s doing it because it’s important to him, to his career and to his team. The player who willingly went from being a primary scorer to taking on a secondary role off the bench last season has dealt with doubt and criticism from outsiders his entire playing career the same way: He’s kept his head down and simply focused on what he can control.
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