We’re just two days away from Minnesota Timberwolves media day and training camp, and less than a week away from the start of preseason. Shams Charania of ESPN announced that they’re adding another body to camp.
Alize Johnson was the 50th pick of the 2018
NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. The six foot, eight inch forward impressed enough in summer league to earn himself a multi-year contract. He played sparingly throughout the next five NBA seasons between Indiana, Brooklyn, Chicago, Washington, New Orleans, and San Antonio. Johnson mostly spent time playing mop-up duty in garbage time or in the G League, though he largely dominated in the latter.
You’ll see outlandish single-game stat lines of 20+ points and 20+ rebounds, or 35+ points and 15+ rebounds out of Johnson, something fantasy basketball players may be familiar with. Throughout four years in the G, he averaged 18.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1 steal per game on .546/.350/.696 shooting splits.
The 29-year-old most recently spent the last two years abroad, playing for leagues in South Korea, Puerto Rico, and Japan. As you can imagine, he found success early and often. During his 2023-2024 season in South Korea, he produced immediately and was named the KBL Cup Most Valuable Player. He would become be a key bench contributor for a KCC Egis team that would win the KBL championship that season. Johnson averaged 13.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in just 18.2 minutes per game.
Johnson plays a high energy, nonstop motor style of basketball who has developed his skillset over the years. He was mostly known as a big-time rebounder and defender, but has really developed his playmaking and inside scoring touch. His above average court vision comes from playing point guard growing up before he hit a late growth spurt. What he lacks is a trustworthy jumpshot and positional size, having just a six-foot, nine-inch wingspan (Net neutral with his height). A Jarred Vanderbilt from Temu, if you will.
Though Johnson is a longshot to make the actual roster, he remains an intriguing player to keep an eye on. He’s a veteran who, by most measures, has dominated against lower levels competition. Think of a Luka Garza career arc. He seems to already have a connection with Naz Reid and Rob Dillingham (via Instagram) which is a cool little footnote.
Will he end up as an emergency end of the bench frontcourt body?
Or will he find himself back in the G in an Iowa Wolves uniform?
(Iowa has begun firming up their roster, recently signing Nojel Eastern, CJ Fulton, and Nate Santos)
