By Josh CohenSept. 15, 2016
Excellent Body Control
Nick Johnson is resilient and has supreme locomotor skills. He’s very bouncy and has a good rhythm when he glides around the court. He can hang in the air for a while and still finish near the rim. Johnson generally stays balanced through traffic. WATCH:
Good Pick-and-Roll Player
Johnson often takes advantage when defenders switch. He’s undersized for a shooting guard and not dynamic enough of a playmaker to run an offense at an advanced level. However, in pick-and-roll situations, he can slice up a defense. Johnson excels at fading back from slower, less versatile defenders and knocking down mid-range jumpers. WATCH:
Fairly Explosive
Johnson is aggressive and athletic. He has an impressive vertical leap. While he’s not necessarily flashy or dazzling when he drives inside, Johnson will go for the dunk rather than a floater or layup. He’s not afraid to challenge rim protectors. In his first year in the D-League with Rio Grande Valley (2014-15), Johnson averaged 5.7 free throw attempts per game. WATCH:
Good in Open Court
Johnson likes to leak out and finish in transition. He’s always moving, which makes it hard for opponents to stay locked on him. He’s very alert of what the defense is doing and will make them pay if they don’t race back. WATCH:
Feisty Defender
While he doesn’t have the length to be an outstanding defender, Johnson is an irritant on that side of the floor. He fights through screens, is always very engaged and is a gutsy on-the-ball defender. He will occasionally deflect or intercept passes and then sprint out for breakaways. WATCH: