Former Auburn forward Chaney Johnson has landed another step in his NBA journey, with the Brooklyn Nets signing him to a two-way contract on Monday.
The move came the day before Johnson would have been eligible as a free agent, a sign of his commitment to Brooklyn after first showing that same kind of loyalty to Auburn.
A two-way deal gives a team the flexibility to move a player between its NBA roster and G League roster as needed, and Johnson has already shown he can make the most of that opportunity. Since leaving Auburn after the Tigers’ 2024-25 Final Four run, he has stayed with the Nets organization.
Johnson’s final season at Auburn was the best of his college career. He appeared in 38 games, making three starts, and averaged 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.4 minutes per game. That marked a clear jump from 2023-24, when he played in 35 games, started two, and posted averages of 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists.
His path has been anything but ordinary. Johnson transferred to Auburn after two strong seasons at Division Two University of Alabama-Huntsville, then went on to thrive in SEC play. Even after going undrafted, he has managed to carve out more NBA minutes than many of the players he matched up against during his two seasons on the Plains.
Johnson’s first year with the Nets, and his first year out of college, showed he could belong right away. He played in 17 games and picked up his first NBA start, averaging 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
For Auburn fans, his rise is easy to appreciate. He began as an unranked prospect, built his name at a Division II school, transferred into the SEC and became an important piece of Auburn’s Final Four team. Now, despite going undrafted, he has earned a real foothold in the NBA.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Sent A Loud Recruiting Message Across Alabama
Auburns early work in the 2027 cycle is already turning heads, and not just on the Plains. Under first-year coach Alex Golesh, the Tigers have landed three commitments from the top 10 prospects in Alabama, a haul that stands out nationally and points to a more aggressive in-state approach than Auburn has shown in recent cycles. It is the kind of start that can change how the rest of the state views the program, especially when those commitments come while the class is still taking shape.
For Auburn, the bigger takeaway is the message behind the names. Golesh and his staff are casting a wide net, and the Tigers are making real progress in the kind of recruiting battles that usually decide who owns Alabama talent in the long run. There is still a long way to go in this class, but Auburn has already put itself in position to make noise with more of the states best prospects as the cycle develops. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Arnold's Next Chapter Could Put Hugh Freeze On Trial
Jackson Arnolds path at Auburn has already become part of a bigger argument about quarterback development under Hugh Freeze, and the latest version of that debate comes from Ryan Brown of Next Round Live. Brown pointed to Arnolds stretches of frustration at both Auburn and Oklahoma, where the quarterback never seemed to settle in cleanly, and framed the conversation around whether his next stop could finally give him a better chance to look like the player people expected.
Dan Mullen at UNLV is the name now being attached to that possibility, which naturally shifts the spotlight back onto Freeze. Arnolds issues with sacks and his struggles in clutch moments are already part of the evaluation, and if he looks more comfortable elsewhere, the conversation around what went wrong in Auburn only gets louder. For Freeze, it is the kind of storyline that does not go away quickly, because it asks whether the problem was ever just the quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Tense Finish For Coveted Athlete Tae Walden Jr
Auburns pursuit of Tae Walden Jr. is headed for a July 1 decision, adding another layer of suspense to a recruiting race that has already drawn plenty of attention. The four-star athlete from the 2027 class has become one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the country, with the ability to help on either side of the ball after starring as both a wide receiver and defensive back in high school.
Walden is set to reveal his choice live on the Rivals YouTube channel, and Auburn is among the schools still waiting to see where he lands. He recently wrapped up a visit to Oregon and spent time with coach Dan Lanning, a late development that only sharpened the intrigue around a decision that could come down to the final stretch. [Read more 🡒]