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Stanley Johnson Shines In Summer League

By Colby Giacubeno

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stanley Johnson (Arizona) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stanley Johnson (Arizona) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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After losing Greg Monroe to free agency, there wasn’t a whole lot to be excited for in terms of the upcoming season for the Detroit Pistons. One thing that was lingering was whether or not lottery pick Stanley Johnson would live up to his potential. Johnson already looks like he could be in the NBA just by his build, but many question whether or not his skills will transfer.

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The first step in the evaluation process is during NBA Summer League, where rookies and players who are still attempting to make an NBA roster display their talents. Johnson took the stage by storm and made it evident that he is ready to make an impact in Detroit, and he’s ready to do it now. He has the potential to become the best player in this year’s draft because he has such a presence on both ends of the floor. He can shoot from the outside, midrange, and finish with contact around the basket.

In the first game against the Orlando Magic (White), Johnson surprisingly came off the bench and finished with 13 points (5-of-8 shooting), four rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes of play. Though he played efficiently, there were spurts that Johnson struggled, which were shown by his five fouls. But mistakes are expected especially in the first game.

Here are highlights from his Summer League debut:

Yesterday in Johnson’s second Summer League game is where he showed how dangerous he could be for a long time in this league. I know this is just Summer League, but the way he plays with maximum effort and energy has to be encouraging for the Pistons.

Johnson started in the second game as they matched up against the Los Angeles Clippers. In this game, there was no stopping Johnson as he finished with 24 points (10-of-14 shooting), nine rebounds, and three steals. His scoring versatility was in full effect as he scored off of offensive rebounds, hitting threes using the pick-and-roll, creating for himself off the dribble, and being on the finishing end of alley-oops.

Here are the highlights from his dominant performance in day 2 of Summer League:

The intensity and energy he brings to the table is exactly what Detroit needs. After a struggling year last year, Johnson gives Pistons’ fans hope that the future will be bright and they will have someone to build around. Reggie Jackson agreed to re-sign with the Pistons for a five-year, $80 million deal that will most likely make him the starting point guard even though head coach Stan Van Gundy believes Jackson and Brandon Jennings can play together.

Other acquisitions like Ersan Ilyasova, Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Danny Granger will improve the chances of Detroit entering themselves in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The past few seasons in Detroit have been challenging, but with their young roster to go along with Johnson, the future will be bright.

Next: 2015 Free Agency Tracker

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