Dakari Johnson shows potential in rookie year

Oklahoma City Thunder center Dakari Johnson’s rookie season that followed two years in the G-League suggested he has a future in the NBA if he continues to develop.

Dakari Johnson didn’t get a lot of playing time for the Thunder — he was the thirdteam center, basically — but Johnson made the most of his opportunities in a rookie season that followed two years in the G-League. Here are his grades:

Starting

A games Johnson started six in place of Steven Adams. Both Johnson and the Thunder held up well. OKC went 5-1 in those games, losing only at the Knickerbockers in December. Johnson was a plus-26 in point differential in those six games, including a plus-26 in a Thunder rout of the Clippers in November when Johnson held his own against DeAndre Jordan. Johnson’s averages for those six starts: 15 minutes, 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.3 turnovers, 64.7 percent shooting and 60 percent foul shooting.

Foul shooting

D 64 Johnson has made percent of his foul shots in G-League games over the past three years. That’s semi-acceptable for a 7-foot center. But Johnson took 20 foul shots for the Thunder and made just 11. Fifty-five percent is bad and exacerbated a season-long Thunder malaise.

Shooting

A clunky Johnson is a big, center who gives off the impression he is not skilled. But Johnson displayed a deft shooting touch. Johnson took 39 shots this season and made 22. On shots outside the restricted area, Johnson shot 50 percent (nine of 18). That includes 4-of-6 shooting on shots longer than 10 feet.

Defense

B enough Johnson didn’t play to get a great reading, and his ability to switch is close to non-existent. He’s an old-school NBA center. But when matched against traditional big men, Johnson held his own. He spent 52 possessions guarding Dirk Nowitzki, Joel Embiid, Marc Gasol, Nik Vucevic, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, Nikola Jokic and LaMarcus Aldridge. They combined to make just four of 12 shots against Johnson, whose defensive rating of 90.5 (points per 100 possessions) was the best on the Thunder by far.

Fouling

D Johnson was a serial fouler. He averaged six fouls per 36 minutes. The next-closest teammates were Terrance Ferguson and Alex Abrines, who each averaged 3.9 fouls per 36 minutes while trying to chase on the perimeter. Johnson did a reasonable job of limiting the shooting fouls, but he often was called for fouls while fighting for defensive position. And offensive fouls were a problem, too. Johnson had two offensive fouls against Jordan alone.