The Indiana Pacers selected Alize Johnson in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft and some fans thought they had a gem on their hands. After bouncing around between the Pacers and the Mad Ants in the G-League, the Pacers moved on from Johnson heading into the 2020-21 season.
Johnson was a star in the G-League with Fort Wayne and was always a high-energy guy when he got time in the NBA. He’s a hungry rebounder who posted big rebounding numbers when given the chance. His final game with the Pacers, a start in the season finale last season, was a sign of things to come as Johnson finished with 17 rebounds.
Former Indiana Pacers big man Alize Johnson is still proving his worth
Johnson averaged 16.6 points and 13.3 rebounds for Raptors 905 at the G-League bubble this season while shooting 57 percent from the field. He also posted 4.2 assists and grabbed 3.1 rebounds per game on the offensive end of the floor.
His play caught the eyes of the Brooklyn Nets, arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference this season. He reached a deal for a 10-day contract with Brooklyn and made an immediate impact.
In his first game of the 2020-21 season, Johnson played in 33 minutes off the bench and did exactly what he was asked to do and then some. He finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds and connected on 11 of his 15 attempts.
https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1374936201069748225?s=20
Sure, the Nets got blown out on the road by the Utah Jazz, but Alize Johnson has always applied pressure when he gets his time on the floor and the former Pacer continues to carve out a spot on rosters. With the Nets adding LaMarcus Aldridge in the buy-out market, Johnson will probably not see much more action.
The funny part of the whole situation is that the Pacers really struggle with rebounding on both ends of the floor and yet they decided to part ways with one of their most talented rebounders. In two seasons with the Pacers, Johnson averaged 13.3 rebounds per 36 minutes, more than leading rebounder Domantas Sabonis.
This is not to say that Johnson is or will be the best rebounder in the NBA but rather that he would fill a massive need on a team fighting for a playoff spot. If he is let go by the Nets, the Pacers would be smart to bring Johnson back as the backup four but that’s just a dream at the moment.