Unlocking the Spurs’ Secret: What’s Fueling San Antonio’s Unstoppable Rise in the NBA?
In a more circumscribed role, the 26-year-old Johnson is playing arguably the best ball of his seven-year NBA career, averaging 13.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.5 minutes per game off the bench. He’s shooting a career-best 62.1% on 2-point shots and 38.3% from beyond the arc, grabbing rebounds at a career-high rate, and seemingly really enjoying life as a guy who knows his role is Move Fast and Break Stuff.
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Johnson can slot into a complementary role alongside Wembanyama, Fox, Castle and Co. in mix-and-match lineups, or act as an attacking hub in second-unit groups, adept at attacking closeouts and making bowling-ball drives into the teeth of the defense to finish up close. The Nets — who, in fairness, are not good — didn’t know what to do with him in the first half on Thursday, as he repeatedly worked his way into the paint for easy-money half-hooks and drop-step finishes off glass.



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