Keon Johnson (basketball, Born 2002)
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Christopher Keon Johnson (born March 10, 2002) is an American professional
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player for the
Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...
of the
National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
(NBA). He played
college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...
for the
Tennessee Volunteers The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Colleg ...
.


Early life

Two months before beginning high school, Johnson suffered
open fracture An open fracture, also called a compound fracture, is a type of bone fracture (broken bone) that has an open wound in the skin near the fractured bone. The skin wound is usually caused by the bone breaking through the surface of the skin. An open fr ...
s in four of his fingers, was thrown about 10 feet and lost consciousness in a
fireworks Fireworks are Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large numbe ...
accident. He underwent surgery to repair
blood vessel Blood vessels are the tubular structures of a circulatory system that transport blood throughout many Animal, animals’ bodies. Blood vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to most of the Tissue (biology), tissues of a Body (bi ...
s in his hand and avoid
amputation Amputation is the removal of a Limb (anatomy), limb or other body part by Physical trauma, trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as cancer, malign ...
, and he underwent eight weeks of intensive
physical therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...
. Johnson played high school basketball for The Webb School in
Bell Buckle, Tennessee Bell Buckle is a town in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 410 at the 2020 census. The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bell Buckle Historic District. History The origin of th ...
. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, earning Division II-A Tennessee Mr. Basketball honors. As a junior, Johnson averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, leading his team to the Division II-A state semifinals. He repeated as Division II-A Tennessee Mr. Basketball. Early in his senior season, Johnson suffered a season-ending
meniscus Meniscus may refer to: *Meniscus (anatomy), crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that partly divides a joint cavity *Meniscus (liquid) In physics (particularly liquid statics), the meniscus (: menisci, ) is the curve in the upper sur ...
injury. In four games, he averaged 30.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. On August 6, 2019, Johnson committed to play
college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...
for
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
over offers from
Ohio State The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities by enrollme ...
and
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, among others. By the end of his high school career, Johnson was rated by major recruiting services as a consensus five-star recruit and the highest ranked player in Tennessee in the 2020 class. He became the first top-ranked in-state prospect to commit to Tennessee since
Robert Hubbs III Robert Lee Hubbs III (born August 19, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Kongsberg Miners of the FIBA Europe Cup and the Norwegian BLNO. Hubbs was one of the most highly acclaimed recruits in University of Tennessee ...
in 2013.


College career

On February 6, 2021, Johnson scored a career-high 27 points in an 82–71 win over
Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
. As a freshman, he averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and was named to the
Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...
(SEC) All-Freshman Team. On April 7, 2021, Johnson declared for the
2021 NBA draft The 2021 NBA draft, the 75th edition of the National Basketball Association's annual NBA draft, draft, was held on July 29, 2021, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. The NBA draft returned to Brooklyn after 2020 NBA draft, the pre ...
, forgoing his college eligibility. At the NBA Draft Combine, he recorded the highest maximum
vertical leap A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of jumping upwards into the air. It can be an exercise for building both endurance and strength, and is also a standard test for measuring athletic performance. It may also be referred to as a ''Sargent ...
in combine history, at 48 inches.


Professional career


Los Angeles Clippers (2021–2022)

Johnson was selected with the 21st pick in the
2021 NBA draft The 2021 NBA draft, the 75th edition of the National Basketball Association's annual NBA draft, draft, was held on July 29, 2021, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. The NBA draft returned to Brooklyn after 2020 NBA draft, the pre ...
by the
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
and was traded to the
Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...
for
Quentin Grimes Quentin Marshall Grimes (born May 8, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and the Houston Cougars. High ...
and draft considerations. On August 6, 2021, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Clippers. In his rookie year, Johnson played in only 15 games for the Clippers.


Portland Trail Blazers (2022–2023)

On February 4, 2022, Johnson was traded, alongside
Eric Bledsoe Eric Bledsoe (born December 9, 1989) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He plays the point guard position. After a season of college basketball with t ...
, Justise Winslow, and a 2025 second-round pick, to the
Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...
in exchange for
Norman Powell Norman WC Powell (born May 25, 1993) is a Jamaican-American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Powell played college basketball with the UCLA Bruins, where he was an all-con ...
and Robert Covington. Johnson made his Trail Blazers debut on February 24, recording four points and four rebounds in a 132–95 loss to the
Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...
. On April 1, he scored a career-high 20 points, alongside three assists, in a 130–111 loss to the
San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
. The Trail Blazers ultimately finished the season with a 27–55 record and did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
. Johnson played for the Trail Blazers during the
2022 NBA Summer League The 2022 NBA Summer League, also branded as the NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022, was an off-season competition held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) primarily at the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada on the cam ...
. He averaged 14.2 points per game en route to the team's second Las Vegas Summer League championship in franchise history. On March 27, 2023, he tied his career high of 20 points, alongside three rebounds and six assists, in a 124–90 loss to the
New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...
. Two days later, Trail Blazers head coach
Chauncey Billups Chauncey Ray Billups (born September 25, 1976) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball with ...
announced that Johnson had suffered a broken finger during a practice and would be out indefinitely. On September 27, 2023, Johnson, alongside
Grayson Allen Grayson James Allen (born October 8, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played four years of college basketball at Duke University, where he helped Duke win a ...
,
Jusuf Nurkić Jusuf Nurkić ( ; born 23 August 1994) is a Bosnian professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, be ...
, and Nassir Little was traded to the
Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
as part of a three-team trade that sent
Damian Lillard Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Dame Time", he played college basketball for the Weber State Wi ...
to the
Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
and
Jrue Holiday Jrue Randall Holiday ( ; born June 12, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins before being selecte ...
,
Toumani Camara Toumani Camara ( ; born 8 May 2000) is a Belgian professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Raised in Belgium, he moved to the United States to attend Chaminade-Madonna College Pre ...
,
Deandre Ayton Deandre Edoneille Ayton Sr. ( ; born July 23, 1998) is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A consensus five-star prospect in the Class of 2017 and a McDonald's All ...
, and a 2029 first-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Suns later waived him on October 23 ahead of the 2023–24 regular season roster cut deadline.


Brooklyn Nets (2023–present)

On November 1, 2023, Johnson signed a
two-way contract A two-way contract is a professional sports contract that stipulates that an athlete's salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play. This is opposed to a one-way contract that would pay the same salary regardless o ...
with the
Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...
. On July 21, 2024, Johnson re-signed with the Nets on a multi-year deal.


Career statistics


NBA

, - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;", L.A. Clippers , 15 , , 0 , , 9.0 , , .333 , , .273 , , .762 , , 1.4 , , .9 , , .5 , , .1 , , 3.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...
, 22 , , 12 , , 25.5 , , .357 , , .348 , , .833 , , 2.7 , , 2.9 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , 9.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...
, 40 , , 0 , , 10.4 , , .376 , , .346 , , .659 , , 1.1 , , 1.5 , , .5 , , .2 , , 4.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, 5 , , 0 , , 12.3 , , .381 , , .400 , , .917 , , 1.4 , , .6 , , .6 , , .2 , , 6.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, 79 , , 56 , , 24.4 , , .389 , , .314 , , .770 , , 3.8 , , 2.2 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , 10.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 161 , , 68 , , 19.2 , , .379 , , .324 , , .765 , , 2.7 , , 1.9 , , .8 , , .3 , , 8.2


College

, - , style="text-align:left;",
2020–21 The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, 27 , , 17 , , 25.5 , , .449 , , .271 , , .703 , , 3.5 , , 2.5 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , 11.3


Personal life

Johnson's mother, Conswella Sparrow Johnson, was a two-time Class AAA Tennessee Miss Basketball winner in high school and played college basketball for Auburn, where she was a two-time All-
Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...
selection.


References


External links


Tennessee Volunteers bioUSA Basketball bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Keon 2002 births Living people 21st-century American sportsmen Agua Caliente Clippers players American men's basketball players Basketball players from Tennessee Brooklyn Nets players Long Island Nets players Los Angeles Clippers players New York Knicks draft picks Portland Trail Blazers players Shooting guards Sportspeople from Shelbyville, Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers basketball players