Chaney Johnson wasn’t supposed to be part of Brooklyn’s preseason conversation. A crowded Nets roster had plenty of names fighting for minutes, and the sophomore forward wasn’t near the top of that list when camp opened.
He’s made sure that changed.
Johnson has been one of Brooklyn’s most noticeable preseason performers, earning second-unit minutes in the first two exhibition games and turning those chances into a real case for more. The appeal is obvious: he brings defensive versatility, physicality and enough finishing ability around the rim to keep coaches interested.
“[Chaney's] versatility [stands out]. He’s multi-positional, really strong, and can guard multiple positions.
He can play on both sides of the floor,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said Thursday following Brooklyn's preseason win over the 76ers. “Today he was more of a five, and on Tuesday against Charlotte he was more of a four.
And then you see his intent to do everything the right way. This summer he worked really hard.
He had a very good summer league, but he’s also had a very good camp. You see his intensity and physicality, and it's something that we need.
Obviously, there's nothing guaranteed here. He's got to keep growing.
I think other guys are also doing a great job. So, I think the team is in the right place competing for minutes.”
Johnson’s path to this point has been steady, not flashy. He signed a two-way deal with the Nets in the middle of last season after going undrafted out of Auburn, then showed enough in a late-year NBA call-up to stay on the radar. From there, he carried that momentum into Summer League and looked the part of a player trending upward.
Across six Summer League games, Johnson averaged 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 30-of-45, good for 66.7 percent, and 4-of-8 from three.
Asked Jordi Fernandez about Chaney Johnson running with the second unit during preseason games:
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) October 9, 2026
“He worked really hard this summer, he had a very good summer league, and he’s also had a very good camp. You see his intensity and physicality, and it's something that we need.“ pic.twitter.com/H1ICy8es38
At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Johnson already has the kind of frame teams covet. Add in his motor, his basketball IQ and his ability to handle different assignments, and you start to see why Brooklyn has kept giving him chances.
Egor Demin didn’t hide how highly he thinks of him.
“I don't have enough time here to express how proud I am of [Chaney]. How happy I am for him, and how happy I am to have him on this team.
He's the hardest-working guy in the gym,” Demin said. “He obviously has so much physical talent.
That's a gift. We have a debate in the gym about who's the strongest, and it's probably between him and Day'Ron [Sharpe].
We might put them in the ring at some point… [Chaney's] going to develop into a regular contract at some point. And I think he's going to be amazing.
I'm glad to have him as a teammate. He does the work that not many people want to do on the court.
And he's grateful for having that opportunity. I think that’s rare, and I appreciate him a lot [for it].”
The question now is where Johnson actually fits. He’s not big enough to live as a full-time center, but it’s still unclear whether his handle or perimeter shooting can open the door to playing next to a traditional big.
Asked Egor Demin about Chaney Johnson last night:
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) October 9, 2026
“[Chaney] is the hardest working guy in the gym… He’s going to develop into a [standard] contract at some point. He’s going to be amazing. I'm glad to have him as a teammate. He does the work that not many people want to do on… https://t.co/cqYfD4yxNf pic.twitter.com/83jbQELEKi
That outside shot will matter. Johnson hit 33.0 percent of his 3.4 attempts per 36 minutes as a rookie, split across 24 G League games and 17 NBA appearances. If that number climbs, his defense and interior scoring become a lot more valuable in Brooklyn’s rotation picture.
Johnson isn’t pretending to have all the answers. When asked at Summer League what role he sees for himself, he kept it simple:
“It's whatever gets me paid,” Johnson said at Summer League when asked what role he envisions for himself. “I will do whatever it takes. Whatever the team needs, I'm there… My main goal is to be the hardest-playing player out there, so whatever the team needs, that's my job.”
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