Stanley Johnson is as Confident as They Come

When it comes to having confidence in his ability to transition to the next level, NBA lottery prospect Stanley Johnson certainly isn’t lacking. The 6’7 Southern California native made this clear during Thursday’s media session at the NBA’s annual Draft Combine in Chicago.

“I’m the best player in the draft,” Johnson said when asked why an NBA team should draft him.

That may be a prospect merely providing the answer they should give in that situation, but the more time you actually spend around Johnson, the more you begin to see that he truly believes what he’s saying.

Basketball Insiders has monitored Johnson’s development over the years, from his days of winning CIF State Championships while playing for Mater Dei to his head-turning freshman season at Arizona. We also had a great look at him competing against some of the best high school players from around the world at last summer’s adidas Nations tournament, which is held annually in California and also features college stars as well as a surprise appearance from current and former NBA players.

After impressing NBA scouts and coaches in the crowd throughout the weekend, Johnson was actually matched up with former NBA player Tracy McGrady during one of the later games. Not only did this match-up show just how NBA-ready his then-high-school body was, it also proved that Johnson wasn’t about to back down from anyone – even a star he grew up watching – in an opposing jersey.

At the combine, Johnson has really impressed by speaking with the same confidence and calmness that he displays on the court. He casually mentions knowing and competing against current NBA players like Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond when asked about the possibility of being drafted by the Detroit Pistons. Again, his tone may strike some as flippant or overly matter-of-fact, but it is actually something scouts and coaches likely appreciate more than anyone else.

Speaking of coaches, Johnson also mentioned the relationship he’s enjoyed with former Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown over the last couple years. Brown’s son, Elijah Brown, is currently a member of the New Mexico Lobos and was a Mater Dei teammate and friend of Johnson. Their friendship clearly opened the door for Brown to assist Johnson with his game and overall development. This could also be precisely why the likely lottery pick is already so polished as he goes through the pre-draft process.

“I think I’m very versatile in what I can do,” Johnson told Basketball Insiders. “I think I can play up to four positions – three really well from the two through the four. I could kind of mesh in a lot of areas for the team. Any team I go to, I feel like I could fill any holes they have whether it be defense or offense, [playing the] two, three, four or moving positions during the game, things like that. I think I could do a bunch of things and I think that’s one of my strongest traits. I don’t think I have a problem meshing with any team.”

Such versatility is even more important in today’s game, as more teams are scrapping what we’ve always held as “traditional” position players in favor of hybrid athletes like Johnson. These hybrid players not only add roster flexibility, but also cause match-up problems for opposing teams. At right around 240 pounds, Johnson is built like a solid small forward, but is quick and agile enough around the perimeter to comfortably defend either swingman position.

While Johnson’s poise under pressure and readiness for the NBA may be abundantly clear to some, he hasn’t allowed that to sway his approach to the game or this process. He knows nothing is guaranteed and he can’t take anything for granted. He knows nothing is being handed to him as he enters the league as a 19-year-old.

“100 percent, nothing comes easy,” Johnson said. “I didn’t walk into Arizona looking at a starting position; I don’t want to walk into the NBA looking for a starting position. I want to work for everything. And I think anything that is given to you can be counterfeit, so I want to work for everything I get.”

Regardless of where Johnson is ultimately selected, his eventual team will not only land a player who shows every sign of having true star potential, they’ll also be taking a player who already seems to understand just how great (and rare) of an opportunity he has to compete at the game he loves at its highest level. Unlike many prospects before him, Johnson embraces the notion that nothing will be made easy for him along the way. And, perhaps most promising, he doesn’t seem to be fazed by the challenge in the slightest.