Chaney Johnson’s next stop with the Brooklyn Nets is already set.
The former Auburn forward/center has signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn for the 2026-27 NBA season after earning that opportunity with a strong late-season run. Johnson accepted the Nets’ offer on the day before NBA free agency began, keeping him in the same arrangement that brought him to the team last season.
Brooklyn first added Johnson on a two-way deal on Dec. 26, and he made the most of his time with the organization. Before his call-up, he played 24 games for the Long Island Nets in the NBA Gatorade League, putting up 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Once he reached Brooklyn, Johnson continued to produce. In 17 NBA games as a rookie, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 20.5 minutes per game while shooting 65.6 percent on 2-point attempts.
His best scoring night came on March 16, when he finished with 17 points in a 114-95 loss to the Detroit Pistons. He also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds in a 136-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors on April 12.
Johnson’s path to the NBA included standout stops at several levels. He was a standout at Thompson High School in Alabaster and later won the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season at Alabama Huntsville. He also played 73 games over two seasons at Auburn, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game during the Tigers’ 2024-25 Final Four run.
The Nets also said Tuesday that Johnson will be part of Brooklyn’s summer-league team next month. The schedule begins with the California Classic on July 4 and 5 in Sacramento, followed by July 6 in San Francisco, before the NBA Summer League 2026 starts on July 9. Brooklyn is scheduled to play at least five games over the 11-day Las Vegas event.
Two-way contracts let players move between an NBA team and its G League affiliate without going through waivers, while earning the same pay in both leagues. Teams may carry three two-way players, and those players can appear on the NBA club’s active roster for up to 50 games. For the 2026-27 season, two-way contracts are worth $679,042, with $91,000 guaranteed at signing.
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What makes Jenkins worth watching is how he fits the bigger picture. Auburn brought in five transfer cornerbacks, and the competition for snaps is already tight behind names like Andre Jordan Jr. and Rayshawn Pleasant. In a group built to sort itself out this fall, Jenkins has the kind of frame and developmental upside that could make him more than just another addition, especially if the progress Auburn saw in him last season carries over into this next stage. [Read more 🡒]