7 Imaginative NBA player comparisons for Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Johnson
Realistic Comparison for Bucks' AJ Johnson: Dejounte Murray
Dejounte Murray is a player Jon Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks have previously kicked the tires on, according to rumors. Like the previous realistic comparison, Horst could be thinking along the lines of "draft a player with similar skills to the names whose prices were too high."
Dejounte Murray has been traded twice in the last three seasons, most recently from the Atlanta Hawks to the New Orleans Pelicans and previously to the Hawks from the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs drafted Murray with the 29th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. Since then, Murray has carved out a solid role as a second option to DeMar DeRozan in San Antonio and Trae Young in Atlanta. Johnson was the 23rd pick, so the draft range is relatively similar.
Dejounte Murray was not measured at the NBA combine, but, coming into the draft, was measured 6-foot-5, 170 pounds. At 6-foot-4, 167 pounds, there may have been too much fuss about Johnson's size and weight, but it is not unprecedented. Murray, an inch taller than Johnson, also measured one inch longer in the wingspan category at 6-foot-9.5 to Johnson's 6-foot-8.5. All in all, these two are almost the exact same size.
Looking at athleticism, Murray wasn't at the combine, so we don't know his exact vertical. However, in his seven-year career, Murray has never been known for his speed or jumping ability, so Johnson has a leg up there coming into the NBA.
Comparing the stats will require some imagination, as Dejounte Murray's role has expanded since his rookie season in San Antonio. In 2023-24, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds in a whopping 35.7 minutes per game. He shot 45.9 percent on field goals, 36.3 percent on 3-pointers and 79.4 percent from the free throw line.
His career numbers make this comparison more understandable. For his career, Murray averages 15.4 points, 5.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 29.1 minutes on 45.8 percent field goal, 34.5 percent 3-point and 78.7 percent free throw shooting.
These are absolutely percentages that AJ Johnson can set his sights on early in his career. As for the minutes, looking at Johnson in Summer League, at 29.1 minutes per game, he'd average 14.7 points, 3.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds, which is not far off.
Lastly, Dejounte Murray isn't known so much for his 3-point shooting, which has improved, but more so for his mid-range game. If AJ Johnson can learn the art of the mid-range from Khris Middleton, one of the best mid-range shooters in the NBA, that could certainly aid this comparison.