Chaney Johnson, a second-year player for the Brooklyn Nets, is making a significant impression during the NBA Summer League with his consistent hustle and athleticism, regardless of the position he is asked to play.
Assistant coach Dutch Gaitley highlighted Johnson's impact, noting his ability to adapt. "If we needed Chaney to play point guard, Chaney would play point guard. He does whatever is called for the team. He’s an outstanding teammate. He plays as hard as anybody on the court. I think he’s got a really bright future," Gaitley said. Johnson has been tasked with playing center despite standing just 6-foot-7, a role he embraces.
In a recent 83-76 loss to Atlanta, Johnson led all players with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals. He has scored in double figures in all four of his Summer League appearances, contributing across the California Classic and Las Vegas events while playing out of his natural position.
Teammate Egor Demin described Johnson as "a dog" and "the favorite teammate of anybody," emphasizing his hard work and humble approach. "He just does it because that’s what he’s doing. Sometimes I feel bad because we don’t reward him enough for his work out there to help us to be successful," Demin stated.
Johnson is averaging 15 points on 64.7 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.8 steals this summer. He remains focused on his effort, saying, "I hang my hat on going out there and playing hard, just controlling everything I can control." When asked about playing center, Johnson expressed his commitment to the team's needs, "It’s whatever gets me paid, you know what I'm saying? I'll do whatever it takes. So whatever the team needs, I'm there."
Meanwhile, rookie Drake Powell has struggled offensively, scoring 11 points in four appearances with a 1-for-28 shooting clip from the field and 0-for-14 from three-point range. Other Nets players also saw action, with Danny Wolf scoring 20 points and Joshua Jefferson adding nine points in his debut. Rookie Zuby Ejiofor recorded 13 points and six rebounds for Atlanta.