Ultimate Fantasy Comparison for AJ Johnson: Russell Westbrook
This is the ultimate fantasy of imagining what AJ Johnson could become for the Milwaukee Bucks, and it's not as far-fetched as it may sound on the surface when comparing a rookie who has only played one Summer League slate to an MVP and first-ballot hall of famer.
Starting at the 2008 NBA Draft Combine, Russell Westbrook had a lower showing than expected in the vertical jump, coming in below the aforementioned Derrick Rose. Westbrook had a 36.5-inch vertical, an inch and a half below Johnson's 38-inch vertical.
Moving to stature, Westbrook measured at the combine at 6-foot-3.5 with a 6-foot-7.75-inch wingspan and 192 pounds. Johnson, who is 25 pounds lighter, does have a slight head start on wingspan. Today, Westbrook is listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. Off the jump, it's obvious that AJ Johnson will have to put on a serious amount of muscle to approach the frame that Westbrook has.
That said, there is another guy who arrived in Milwaukee as a skinny kid with a desire to improve. Maybe AJ Johnson could take a page out of the Giannis Antetokounmpo handbook and go from a scrawny athlete to a freight train that nobody wants to stand in the way of. Imagining AJ Johnson with another 20-30 pounds of muscle combined with his speed and jumping ability 100 percent makes the Russell Westbrook ultimate fantasy comparison understandable.
Now, Russell Westbrook has been in the NBA for a long time, and in the past few years, he has developed into more of a backup point guard than the triple-double machine he was from 2015 to 2021. Last season, as a backup primarily for the Los Angeles Clippers, Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. Those numbers match up somewhat closely with AJ Johnson's Summer League averages of 11.2 points, 2.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds
If we expand the sample size from the 2022-23 season through this past year, when Westbrook was relegated to more of a bench role, we can get a little bit clearer picture of what AJ Johnson should aspire to in his early years.
In those two seasons, Westbrook played 141 games, started 35, played 25.9 minutes per game and averaged 13.6 points, 6.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds. If AJ Johnson, during his rookie contract, gets to a point where he is doing enough to earn 25.9 minutes per game, these are fine numbers to aim for.
Looking at Russell Westbrook's career shooting numbers, AJ Johnson could meet or exceed them. Over his 16-year career, Westbrook is shooting 43.8 percent on field goals, 30.4 percent at the 3-point line and 77.6 percent from the free-throw line. AJ Johnson could absolutely meet or beat those percentages, the field goal and 3-point numbers in his rookie season are easily attainable.
If AJ Johnson builds out his frame, heightens his game and lives up to a big name, let it be Russell Westbrook.