Chaney Johnson believes the Brooklyn Nets are approaching the 2026-27 season with added motivation after ending 20-62 and thirteenth within the Japanese Convention. The second-year ahead can be aiming to show a productive rookie season and powerful Summer time League into a bigger NBA position.
“I simply really feel like we’re hungry,” Johnson informed Connor Lengthy of Yahoo Sports activities, Hoops Rumors. “They know — we notice how horrible of a staff we have been final 12 months, or how horrible we did. I do know ‘horrible’ is a robust phrase, so I don’t need to — however we weren’t one of the best staff final 12 months. So I really feel like we’ve acquired that chip on our shoulder now, and we’re able to show some individuals improper.”
Johnson appeared in 17 video games for Brooklyn as a rookie, together with one begin, and averaged 8.2 factors, 4.6 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists in 20.5 minutes. He shot 54.3% from the sector and posted a 59.0% efficient field-goal proportion, whereas averaging 1.9 offensive rebounds per sport.
Most of Johnson’s improvement work got here within the G League, the place he performed 40 video games and averaged 14.0 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 26.3 minutes. He shot 57.8% from the sector and 36.2% from three-point vary, together with 40.0% from deep throughout his 16 video games with the Cleveland Cost.
The 24-year-old then carried that manufacturing into Las Vegas. Johnson averaged 13.0 factors and eight.0 rebounds in Summer time League whereas main all gamers with 3.3 steals per sport, giving Brooklyn one other indicator of his defensive exercise and rebounding.
That manufacturing could possibly be vital for a Nets roster that’s nonetheless closely targeted on participant improvement. Brooklyn added a number of younger gamers by way of the 2026 draft, whereas Johnson is competing for minutes amongst a bunch of wings and forwards that features Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Josh Minott, Ziaire Williams and a number of other youthful additions.
Johnson’s rookie numbers additionally examine favorably in a number of effectivity areas. Amongst Nets gamers who appeared in at the very least 15 video games final season, his 54.3% field-goal proportion ranked behind solely Nic Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe and Malachi Smith, whereas his 1.9 offensive rebounds per sport got here in fewer than 21 minutes.
Brooklyn’s 20-win season left the franchise 40 video games behind the Japanese Convention-leading Detroit Pistons and forward of solely Indiana and Washington within the standings. The Nets’ rebuilding timeline, nonetheless, creates alternatives for gamers who can set up themselves by way of improvement quite than relying solely on veteran expertise.
