It’s not that hard to be excited about the future of the San Antonio Spurs, especially given the potential of Keldon Johnson. The organization’s legacy, which was cemented by the likes of David Robinson, and Tim Duncan, is now at a point where a new chapter will soon be added to its rich history. While the team is led by DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, most of its key roles are played by up-and-coming stars.
Just take a look at their roster and you might find some solid potential in Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, or Derrick White. Some may even make the case for Luka Samanic or Lonnie Walker IV. But among these young players is one that slowly breaking out from the pack – Keldon Johnson.
This second-year Spur has been tearing it for the past few games. From a quiet rookie season, Johnson has been playing an integral part in keeping San Antonio’s playoff hopes alive. His performance has not gone unnoticed, especially among card collectors.
Before his prices shoot up, it’s best to know more about Keldon Johnson and why he should be your next card investment.
3. He’s getting solid minutes
Say what you want about this 21-year old sophomore from the University of Kentucky but playing a lot of minutes as one of Spurs’ starting forwards, along with DeRozan. Keldon Johnson is averaging 31.4 minutes in the 10 games he started for this season. Now, that’s not something to scoff at, especially if your coach is Gregg Popovich.
It’s common knowledge that Pop won’t insert you into the starting lineup and give you a lot of minutes if he doesn’t trust you. In this case, the legendary coach has afforded Johnson his trust and he has done more than enough to justify that during the past month. If Johnson is good enough for Popovich, then that’s a good sign for his card value.
2. Johnson has the potential to fill up the stat sheets
Thanks to all the minutes he’s getting, Johnson has been given the chance to perform well for the San Antonio Spurs. In those games, the forward has averaged 13.1 points, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 7.4 rebounds. Plus, he’s attempting 3.3 shots from downtown and hitting 39% of them.
Compare those figures to his measly stats last season in just 17 games and you’ll definitely see a lot of improvement this year. Keep in mind that this is a second-year player who has all the time to develop and improve those stats from where they are now. Once that happens, card collectors will take notice and drive Johnson’s card prices up.
1. He has the chance to become the Spurs’ top guy
Fans of the San Antonio Spurs have been itching to have their team return to contention. With the departure of Kawhi Leonard a couple of seasons ago, the organization lost a credible chance to compete for a ring. And with the eventual decline or possible departure of DeRozan and Aldridge looming over the Spurs’ heads, the search for their next cornerstone is getting more intense.
This is where Keldon Johnson comes in. He has a good chance to rise above the pack and solidify his role as the Spurs go-to-guy. He needs to score more buckets, become a legitimate perimeter threat, and lead the team on the defensive end to make that happen. And if it does happen, more and more people will chase Johnson’s rookie cards on the market.
But rather than join the crowd, it’s best if you get there first. As of the moment, Johnson’s cards have slowly risen up in value because of his improving performance this season. It’s better to invest in him now while his cards are affordable before his stock goes up.