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The San Antonio Spurs have one of the brightest futures in the NBA, and a lot of that has to do with their selection of Victor Wembanyama this summer. But on top of that, they have a great group of guys around him. They’re slated to roll out a starting lineup of Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama, and Zach Collins.
Where does that leave Keldon Johnson? Well, according to Jeph Duarte of Pounding the Rock, it could see him slip into the role Manu Ginobili once played for the Spurs – the super sixth-man role – that helped them win a couple of titles.
Duarte referenced Johnson’s words to Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News in which he said he’d be willing to come off the bench, stating that the forward could be super useful in that role.
“Bringing Keldon off the bench offers immediate leadership to the second unit and could shape a back-up squad that can elevate the Spurs while the starters rest,” Duarte wrote. “The 2014 Spurs title team was able to rest elders and manipulate line-ups because of their amazing bench.”
Keldon on if he would be open to a new role next season coming off the bench, “Yeah. I just want to win. Whatever I got to do to win, I am looking forward to that, so we’ll see how it goes.” pic.twitter.com/0dgAxnIvFy
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) July 27, 2023
Johnson is coming off a solid season in San Antonio, and in a bench role, he could be a great scoring punch for the Spurs. He may be one of the best bench players in the league should he take on that tole.
If he sticks around long enough to help them win, and he comes off the bench doing it, Johnson’s role on the squad and sacrifices along the way would certainly mimic those of Ginobili.
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