Strengths
For those who are into that sort of killer mentality that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant inspired, Stanley Johnson seems that have that same ultra-competitive gene. He is constantly looking to attack with the ball in his hands, to the point that it can even become a weakness at times when he plays a bit out of control.
However, with the right instruction, Johnson will be able to use his size, strength and all-around talent to become an effective two-way player in this league. And, as we already mentioned, confidence and internal drive certainly won’t be an issue when it comes to his development:
Stanley Johnson: "I'm the best player in the draft"
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 14, 2015
Johnson’s motor and competitive fire would be a great addition for any NBA team, but he’s also got the build to be effective. His true position is small forward, but as a buff, 6’6″ player with lateral speed and intelligence, he could be capable of playing the 2-4 spot.
What’s scary is this 18-year-old, 242-pound Wildcat didn’t start lifting weights until he was in college. I would like to know what Johnson’s parents were feeding him as a child and order some of that for myself.
Stanley Johnson (242 lbs, chiseled) said he didn't start lifting until college. "My parents are from the South, so I'm a big boned'ed dude."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 14, 2015
Because he’s so physical and because of his elite defensive skills, Johnson should be able to survive in multiple positions at the next level. On the defensive end, he has the strength, anticipation, and impressive 6’11.5″ wing span to help him stick with most small forwards and probably even power forwards as he continues to grow.
He’ll need to work on his lateral quickness to stick with shooting guards, but his perimeter footwork is mostly good and on offense, he’d be able to bully his matchup at that position. If he can continue to fine-tune the rougher edges of his game, he truly will be able to play three different positions.
Final one on Stanley Johnson: sees himself as a 2, but thinks he can defend other positions.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 14, 2015
But what about the power forward spot? Though he’s not tall enough to be a prototypical power forward, he’s certainly got the skills to be a stretch-four. Defensively, Johnson is an excellent rebounder for his size, though his team would probably benefit more from his rebounding boost as a three rather than relying on it as a four.
On the offensive end, Johnson shot 37.1 percent from downtown in his one season at Arizona and with the direction the league is heading in, he’d be able to thrive as a small-ball four if he can consistently knock down perimeter looks. He also said at the NBA Draft Combine that he’s been practicing from NBA range for quite some time now:
Stanley Johnson says he thinks he will shoot about the same at NBA 3-point line as he did in college. Has practiced for a year at NBA line.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 14, 2015
Between his physicality, his shooting ability, his rebounding skills, his competitive fire and his potential to be elite defensively, Stanley Johnson seems like the total package.
Next: Weaknesses