On June 26, the Milwaukee Bucks shocked their fanbase and a lot of people around the NBA when they selected AJ Johnson with the 23rd overall pick.

It felt like the Bucks were leaning toward a wing or center and taking a much more NBA-ready player with years of college experience under their belt. Instead, Johnson, 19, was selected.

One of the most puzzling things about Johnson is he weighs just 167 pounds, which was a cause for concern amongst Bucks fans, who were eyeing a physical, defensive-minded wing to help in a win-now situation. The 19-year-old spent time in Australia with the Illawarra Hawks (former team of LaMello Ball) in the 2023-24 season, averaging just 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists, so something must have stood out to the front office.

Johnson is 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan and is a really good player in transition. He showed plenty of potential during his time in high school. However, the primary question following the pick was when he’d be able to get on the court and help this team. That question still remains, but the young guard has the backing of one of the team’s superstar players, who thinks he can help now.

Giannis thinks Johnson could help speed up Bucks’ tempo from bench

AJ Johnson was given support on the Bucks Media Day, with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo backing the young point guard and speaking highly of what he can bring in the upcoming season.

As previously mentioned, Johnson has great speed, and Giannis said, “I love AJ. This guy reminds me of Road Runner. You know, the cartoon? ‘Beep-beep'” in classic Giannis fashion. The two-time MVP continued to say the young guard doesn’t stop moving and brings a lot of energy to the court.

Giannis also said Johnson “can play but needs to be assertive, and he can help the second unit speed up the tempo, and he plays the right way.” Having that backing from your star player is great for any rookie, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was doubted all his life and became an NBA champion.

In Milwaukee’s two preseason games, AJ Johnson has flashed exactly what Giannis was talking about, racing up the floor in transition and constantly moving all over the court. It’s a small sample size, but Johnson is showing that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s endorsement was no sham. It’s this type of energy that will help him as he aims to carve out a role for himself with Milwaukee.

In terms of Johnson this season, we may not see much of him early on, as the addition of Delon Wright makes it clear that he will be the backup point guard when Lillard sits. We know the ball-handling and ability to run the offense Giannis and Khris Middleton have, but Johnson will likely get his chance.

The Bucks struggled with the Indiana Pacers in the regular season and postseason due to their lack of youth, speed and athleticism. Johnson possesses all of those assets.

The reaction to Johnson’s selection was not all pleasant, but having the backing of Giannis already and then being able to learn from Damian Lillard at the point guard position is nothing but positive for the young guard as he develops.

Doc Rivers didn’t show too much faith in the younger players last season, but that may have been more due to the situation of the Milwaukee Bucks and how he was relying on the veterans to lead. Hopefully this season we get to see what AJ Johnson can do on the NBA court, along with the other young players all looking to stake their claim in the rotation.