Is Stanley Johnson A Good Fit For The Charlotte Hornets?

One trait that is a must for anyone who wants to make it as a professional basketball player is confidence. All the true greats of the game had it, from Wilt Chamberlain to Michael Jordan to LeBron James, they are all supremely assured in their abilities and what they can do.

More from Charlotte Hornets

To be able to just know what you can do on a basketball court and then go out and do it is a rare skill that separates the good from the great from the legendary.

It’s safe to say that it will be a while before everyone sees if Arizona’s Stanley Johnson will be counted among that elite group, but it has become very apparent he already has the confidence part down.

During the just completed NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Johnson made no bones about where he thinks he stands in this year’s draft class. He told Paul Coro of AzCentral.com as much on Thursday, saying:

"“I’m about straight-and-narrow truth. I think I’m the best player in the draft.I can score from all three levels pretty well. I can be the primary ball-handler in any pick-and-roll or any two-man games situation. On defense, I’m going to play hard. I’m going to play smart, and I’m a nasty competitor. I don’t think there are many guys that want to win and want to compete as much as I do. I’ll definitely bring that to the locker room.”"

The interesting part is that he might not be wrong. At least, that’s what the Charlotte Hornets are hoping.

Normally it’s practically impossible to figure out what the Hornets and their GM, Rich Cho, are planning leading up to the draft. They keep everyone in the dark and like it that way. However, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer has discovered that the Hornets have spoken to Johnson and are very interested in drafting him and seeing what he could bring to the team.

And why wouldn’t they? Johnson is 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds of almost pure muscle. He can defend an array of positions and has made the 3-point shot his speciality, taking 100 shots from beyond the arc daily. With the Hornets desperate for any help on the wing and a need to bring more skilled players into the fold, Johnson would help on both counts.

Live Feed

Five players signed past their prime in the second Hornets era /

Swarm and Sting

Charlotte Hornets land Pelicans star in mock trade proposalSwarm and Sting

Hornets predicted to have just one Top 100 player in 2023-24Swarm and Sting

5 Players that could replace Gordon Hayward on the HornetsSwarm and Sting

Why bringing scoring guard off the bench gives Hornets massive boostSwarm and Sting

Grade the mock trade: Hornets flip Gordon Hayward for 12-Time All-StarSwarm and Sting

Then there is the fact that Johnson is only 19 years old and isn’t even sure what he’s really capable of yet. Considering that Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker are not getting any younger, Johnson would be a solid addition to the team’s young core that includes Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh.

Then the question becomes would someone that most would consider arrogant fit in with the culture Charlotte has developed? That depends on if you consider Johnson cocky or someone who understands what he can do.

Johnson has been mentored by former NBA coach Mike Brown and did workouts with none other then Kobe Bryant before he even played for Arizona. He helped Arizona reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament and, unlike most cocky people, welcomes criticism of his game.

Stanley Johnson would bring a lot of positives with him if the Hornets are able to grab him with the 9th overall pick, where Charlotte is expected to pick in June. If they are very lucky, Johnson will turn out to be as as great as he already believes he is.

Next: The 30 Best Power Forwards of All-Time

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Charlotte Hornets