Nets’ Two-Way Johnson Earning Reps With Second Unit

Chaney Johnson has forced his way into the Brooklyn Nets' second unit this preseason and has impressed with strong performances in two games.

Johnson has tallied 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. His two steals and two blocks in Thursday's win over the Philadelphia 76ers highlight what he brings to the team.

Coach Jordi Fernández said Brooklyn needs his physicality and intensity.

The team took its preseason matchup against Philadelphia seriously. Julius Randle guarded LeBron James full court, and Josh Minott got physical with James early in the first quarter.

Johnson embodies the team's new identity, and he showed that over the summer. The 6-foot-8 forward played a Swiss Army knife role for summer league coach Dutch Gaitley as a commitment to help the team win.

Gaitley said if the team needed Johnson to play point guard, he'd assume the role. Brooklyn needed him to be its small-ball center during the summer, and despite being undersized, he took on the challenge.

He averaged 15 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals across four Summer League games. Johnson had his best performance in an 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, dropping 20 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

The 24-year-old has brought that same intensity and physicality into the preseason. It's helping him build a case for an upgrade to a standard contract from his two-way deal and to become part of the Nets' bench unit.

Brooklyn has an interesting position battle for the backup forward role. Josh Minott, Noah Clowney, Joshua Jefferson and Danny Wolf are competing for the two spots behind Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle.

Johnson has entered the conversation with a strong preseason and has two more games to solidify his standing. Brooklyn will travel to face the Washington Wizards next Monday and end its four-game slate against the Miami Heat next Wednesday.

The 24-year-old could become a success story for the Nets. They signed Johnson to a two-way contract last December, and he averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 17 games.

Brooklyn extended a two-way qualifying offer to Johnson on June 27, and he signed it two days later.

The team sees potential in the two-way forward, and Johnson has proven them right so far this preseason. Fernández values his two-way versatility, and for young players, defense is arguably the best way to earn minutes and climb up the depth chart.