SAN ANTONIO — Keldon Johnson, a second-year standout for the Spurs, was named to the NBA's Rising Stars roster on Wednesday.
The big-bodied wing out of Kentucky is averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, playing with a physical, attacking style that energizes San Antonio. The game will not be played due to coronavirus, but Johnson deserves some shine after the jump he's made.
He joins a USA roster with Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and Tyler Herro, who all went ahead of him in the 2019 draft. San Antonio secured the steal of the draft when Johnson fell to 29.
The Rising Stars rosters were announced via NBA Top Shot, a new marketplace for exclusive digital NBA collectibles. They featured a cryptocurrency-backed highlight of him dunking over Kawhi Leonard, a play-style inspiration who he got traded for when Toronto sent the 29th pick to San Antonio in that deal. The lowest asking price quickly climbed near $100.