Chaney Johnson has moved fast from afterthought to rotation piece for Jordi Fernández, and his latest outing only strengthened the case that Brooklyn has something real on its hands.
In Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, the 6-foot-8 forward turned in his best game of the season: 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, plus three rebounds, two assists and one steal in 29 minutes. Twelve of those points came in the first half as Johnson stayed within the offense, spacing the floor for corner threes and slipping into open pockets for easy finishes at the rim.
He also made his presence felt in the fourth quarter, when both of his assists came in key wire-to-wire possessions. Michael Porter Jr. buried a three off a dribble handoff to put Brooklyn up by three, and on the next trip Johnson hit Julius Randle in the short roll for a contested layup.
That kind of all-around impact is exactly why Johnson has gone from a two-way player to a steady part of the rotation in his second season. He signed his two-way qualifying offer quickly, just two days after Brooklyn put it on the table, and general manager Sean Marks clearly saw something in the 24-year-old after similar production in 17 games last season.
This isn’t a one-game burst, either. Johnson has been building his case since summer league and preseason. Over four summer league games, he averaged 15 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals, and he posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in Brooklyn’s 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on July 11.
Fernández gave him time with the bench unit in preseason, where Johnson again held his own. In two games, he has put up 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, and the coach has pointed to his toughness and physicality as reasons he belongs.
His rise has also changed the shape of Brooklyn’s rotation. Johnson has moved ahead of Danny Wolf, the 22-year-old second-year forward who is part of the Flatbush Five. Wolf has played in just one game as he works to prove he can be an impact rotation player in a crowded young roster.
For now, Johnson is the one making noise, and he’s doing it in a way that fits right into Fernández’s plans. The coach has clearly seen enough to trust him, and Johnson keeps showing that he can help this team win.
In Other News...
Nets Must Reshape Their Backcourt Again After Egor Dmin Setback
The Nets are already making another adjustment to their backcourt rotation after Egor Dmin was diagnosed with a right leg bone bruise and sent for a re-evaluation in one week. Head coach Jordi Fernndez said Dmin is in good spirits and there is no concern about a long-term issue, but the timing still matters for a team that has been trying to sort out its guard minutes early in the season. Brooklyn also quietly reinforced its long view on the young core by picking up third-year team options for the 2027-28 season on Dmin, Nolan Traor, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf.
For now, though, the immediate focus is on who absorbs Dmins minutes while he sits out at least four games. The setback came during a stretch when Brooklyn was already navigating lineup changes, and it leaves the Nets waiting on both the injury update and the next chance to see how their backcourt pieces fit together once he is cleared to return. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Forced Into Another Backcourt Adjustment After Egor Demin Scare
The Nets are bracing for another backcourt shuffle after Egor Demin was sidelined with a right leg injury, adding another complication to a rotation that has already had to absorb a series of moving parts. Brooklyn is still sorting through its guard options as it tries to keep the pieces in place, and the timing is hardly ideal with the schedule offering little room to settle things down.
Demin has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right leg and will be reevaluated in one week, which means the Nets will have to cover his minutes without much certainty about when he can return. He is expected to miss at least four games, starting Friday against the Pistons, leaving Brooklyn to make yet another adjustment while it waits for a clearer update. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Just Sent A Clear Message About Their 2025 Draft Class
The Nets have taken an early step toward locking in the shape of their 2025 draft haul, exercising the third-year rookie scale team options on all five of their first-round picks. Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf are all now set for their 2027-28 salaries, a move that underscores how Brooklyn is already thinking beyond the immediate growing pains of a young roster.
For a team that has leaned heavily into draft capital and player development, the decision sends a clear organizational message about the group it brought in this summer. The next checkpoint comes later, when Brooklyn will have to decide on the quintets fourth-year options by Nov. 1, 2027, a deadline that will help determine how long this class stays together as the rebuild moves forward. [Read more 🡒]