The Milwaukee Bucks returned home to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, and despite falling to a 107-102 defeat, there were plenty of positive takeaways. None more so, though, than the performance of rookie AJ Johnson.
Back in June, when Johnson was taken with the 23rd overall pick, many people were left confused over the selection of the 19-year-old and how he fit in with the Bucks' timeline as they looked to win a title in 2025.
The point guard was drafted at around 167 lbs, which left fans scratching their heads as the Bucks' prime need, in the eyes of many, was a more NBA-ready wing or center who was a defensive threat. It also didn't help that the former NBL player struggled to get time on the court overseas last season. However, against the Los Angeles Lakers, he looked like he more than belonged.
Johnson could feature in the Bucks' plans sooner than we think
AJ Johnson played 22 minutes off the bench and looked good when pushing the tempo as the facilitator, but he also showed his ability to grab rebounds. He finished the game with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists on 41.7 percent shooting, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He had an all-around great impact off the bench.
Those 13 points saw him finish just behind Bobby Portis (23 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (20 points) as Bucks leaders, and he showed why he was so heavily recruited by the likes of Texas, LSU and USC before taking his talents down under. The best highlight of his was when he drove straight to the basket, flying by one of the elite shot blockers in Anthony Davis and finishing off the glass, showing that what he may lack in size, his speed and athleticism can be used to his advantage.
Following that layup, AJ Johnson showed real confidence and that he belonged on the court with his fellow NBA stars. That level of belief in himself is of great use to the Bucks, as there isn't another player on the roster that has that skillset or plays in the same fashion with the speed and drive to up the tempo. His physique is a work in progress, but defensively, he was never exploited, and that bodes well for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Johnson got the nod with Delon Wright sidelined due to a slight injury, though it is nothing too serious. That allowed the rookie to earn more time on the floor, and he took advantage. As a duo, it may be a nice tandem for the Bucks to try in the backcourt when Damian Lillard sits. You have the experience and defensive know-how of Wright with the youth and fearlessness of Johnson that may complement each other well.
It was a night of struggles for some of the other young Bucks, but Johnson showed out and did so much to help his chances of featuring in the rotation. Giannis recently spoke highly of what he can bring into the mix, and if he continues to play like this in the preseason, then we may see AJ Johnson feature more in the rotation than we initially thought.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis this preseason.