The San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson dislocated his shoulder and will not be able to join the training camp this week. He suffered the injury during an open run at the Spurs’ practice facility.
Less than 5 percent of all dislocations are posterior dislocations, which typically result from a fall on an outstretched arm. The length of time it takes to fully recover from this injury depends on numerous variables but recovery may take months.
Spurs’ Keldon Johnson has suffered a dislocated right shoulder, will miss the start of training camp and is expected to return for the start of the season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 24, 2022
According to the team, Johnson will also miss the preseason games but he should be able to play at the start of the regular season against the Charlotte Hornets. Johnson has a record of 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. In 2021–2022, he was considered to be one of the NBA’s most productive high-volume spot-up threats.
Johnson was eligible for a rookie scale extension as a former first-round choice entering his fourth season. He has accepted a $74 million extension with the Spurs.
Spurs say Keldon Johnson suffered a shoulder injury. pic.twitter.com/n3Yu3lAzZQ
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 24, 2022
Johnson’s extension falls between a few other small forwards’ rookie extensions. Mikal Bridges received $90 million over four years from the Suns last summer, while OG Anunoby received $72 million over four years from the Toronto Raptors in 2020. According to Hoops Rumor’s extension tracker, Johnson is the first player to get a rookie scale extension contract that is not a maximum-salary deal.
Analysts’ opinion
Although Johnson spent the majority of his rookie season in the G League, he began to show promise during the team’s stint in the Orlando bubble.
According to Kenneth Teape of NBA Analysis Network, Johnson first caught the attention of basketball fans when competing for Team USA at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Teape said although Johnson’s playing time is limited, the experience helped him develop as a player.
League source says Keldon Johnson is confident he’ll be ready for the start of the season after suffering his shoulder injury two weeks ago.
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) September 24, 2022
Johnson’s usage rate and volume have consistently risen in each season. Teape asserted that Johnson’s stats would have another spike in the following season.
“The more chances a player has to produce, the better chance at breaking out,” Teape said. “Keldon Johnson will produce some eye-popping stat lines throughout the season as the new No. 1 option.”
Johnson was given the nickname “Big Body” because of his muscular physique and aggressiveness. He showed development as an outside shooter in the 2021 season, with his three-point percentage rising by nearly seven percent.
According to Rory Maher of Hoops Rumors, Johnson was expected to play a bigger part in the upcoming season after All-Star Dejounte Murray was traded to the Hawks. Maher asserted that Johnson hasn’t been as good of a defender through his third season, but he’s been a more effective offensive player.
“Part of that is due to opportunity,” Maher added. “But he’s still a talented player with plenty of room for improvement.”
Meanwhile, Yardbarker’s Grant Afseth also has a high expectation of Johnson, saying that Johnson would develop into more of a star position and playmaker on the wing.
“There is plenty of intrigue surrounding what Johnson may accomplish in a potentially larger role in the Spurs’ offense following the Dejounte Murray trade,” Afseth said.
Along with Johnson, the Spurs have a roster of young players that consists of No. 25 pick Blake Wesley, Joshua Primo, Devin Vassell and No. 9 overall pick Jeremy Sochan.