Sporting a new number and having dropped 10 pounds, Spurs forward Keldon Johnson says he's ready to 'hit the ground running' when the season opens.
Keldon Johnson was quick to correct a wisecracking reporter who asked him on media day if he was ready for his 10th year. 'Sixth, sixth,' Johnson said. 'You make me feel old, man.' With his 25th birthday coming Oct. 11, the forward is still a young player. But the reporter busting Johnson's chops had a point: It does seem as though the Virginia native has been with the club for at least a decade now.
The best Spurs coverage in Alamo City, delivered to your inbox But it's enough to make Johnson the team's longest-tenured current player, a role he has fully embraced. 'It's definitely an honor and a blessing to be part of an organization like this for such a long period of time, to be able to stick around and thrive,' he said. 'That's the main thing. And any knowledge I can pass on to the younger guys or any of the new guys coming in, I am willing to do.
As Spurs' Victor Wembanyama bulks up, teammates take notice Johnson earned respect last season from his teammates and coaches when he moved into a sixth man role in December after starting the first 27 games of the season and 60-plus games in each of the previous three years. Champagnie replaced Johnson in the starting unit. Coach Gregg Popovich made the move to bolster the bench and give rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and guard Devin Vassell bigger roles on offense.
With Spurs, Chris Paul can turn jeers to cheers Johnson's decision to slim down underscored his commitment to the team and his future. 'Just making it a lifestyle, not a diet, not just something that is temporary for me,' said a player who has spoken frequently about his love for the barbecue and sides at Buc-ees. 'This is something I plan on making a lifestyle for me and my family, eating the right things and being in shape.
Hall Of Fame G League Keldon Johnson Sixth KJ Devin Vassell Gregg Popovich Tony Parker Tim Duncan Chris Paul Julian Champagnie Silver Victor Wembanyama Avery Johnson Demar Derozan Lamarcus Aldridge Sean Elliott David Robinson Matt Bonner Patty Mills George Gervin Johnny Moore Manu Ginobili Virginia Alamo City Kentucky Dallas Buc-Ees
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