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The 23rd pick, which averaged 2.9 points per game, is worth it!

In the 2024 draft, the Bucks caused an uproar by picking AJ Johnson with the 23rd pick. Because AJ's previous prediction picks were generally in the second round, but the Bucks directly took him off at this position, which is not risky.


Why is AJ Johnson not favored? Largely because he had little chance of performing in the Australian league. In the NBL league, AJ Johnson averaged only 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game, which is not even as good as Bronny's college stats, but it is worth noting that AJ only averages about 8 minutes per game.



AJ was neither trained in the college basketball system nor proven himself in the professional league, which was a two-way delay. At least Jalen Green, with whom Lin has a very good relationship, was at least the prince of the Ignite team and was comfortable in the development league.


When AJ walked up to the stage and shook hands with Xiao Hua, a very immature face appeared in front of the fans, although it looked innocent and harmless, but it also further proved that the Bucks chose a pure "rough" type player this time.



But after the summer league was played, fans found that the "little brother" was not as mature as they imagined. In 4 games, he played an average of 23.8 minutes per game, shooting 40% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range, contributing 14 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists.


Against the Clippers, he scored 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, and played brilliantly on both offensive and defensive ends. It can be seen that breakthrough is his main offensive means, and he also shows his three-point ability, and the kid brother is still relatively elegant.



AJ Johnson is 1.93 meters tall, has an arm span of 2.04 meters, weighs 76 kilograms, and is a typical lanky tall two-way guard with long hands and feet. The step he broke through was the shadow of an extended version of Jalen Green, who deserved to have played with Jalen Green since he was a child.


But I think he's more like a shot weakened version, a speed-enhanced version of Livingston, and a little like Livingston before there was no major injury. Although it is said to be a two-way guard, the child brother who lacks stable shooting ability is likely to start as a backup point guard.



Brother Kid's physical talent and athleticism are very good, it can be seen that he has a strong ability to combine the ball in the break, and the breakthrough technique is already very skilled, not blindly burying his head in the front, and is good at using the change of rhythm to attack the basket.


The average of 3 assists per game in the summer league also proves that the little brother has a good big picture, has a high training ceiling in terms of organization, and has a natural vision advantage at his height in the point guard position. In the summer league, he showed much better content than in the NBL.



Of course, it is also a fact that the kid's weight is too thin, and he basically avoids defenders when he lays up, and his physical flexibility is good, but it also proves that he lacks confrontation ability. But after the NBA has systematically built muscle, Brother Kid's defense will definitely not be too bad.


If there's any team in this league that's the best at developing kids, it's the Bucks. Don't forget that the once immature alphabet brother was also born as a "child brother", averaging 9.5 points and 5 rebounds per game in the Greece league, and he was also pure and pure when he first arrived in the United States.



Later, he first reinvented his body shape in the Bucks, growing from a skinny Nigerian boy to the current devil muscleman, and then refined his skills, won the most improved player, won the MVP, won the championship, and followed the rules.


It's not that AJ Johnson has a terrifying ceiling like Brother Alphabet, but at least he already has an example that the Bucks can benchmark, and he can practice as he pleases, don't forget that after Kidd let Brother Alphabet start playing point guard, Brother Alphabet really began to be reborn.



In terms of potential value alone, Brother Kid is definitely a candidate for lotto, but the process of potential exchange must be very long and requires many detours. Now it seems that it is still worth it to pick such a lottery ticket with the 23rd pick.

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