Milwaukee Bucks’ Surprising 23rd Overall Pick: A.J. Johnson in the 2024 NBA Draft
In a surprising move, the Milwaukee Bucks selected guard A.J. Johnson with the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. At just 19 years old, Johnson was projected by many mock drafts to be a second-round pick, making his first-round selection unexpected.
Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst’s decision to draft Johnson has raised eyebrows. Despite being a four-star recruit out of high school, Johnson chose to play in the Australian NBL’s Next Star program instead of college basketball. His performance in the NBL was modest, averaging only 2.9 points and 7.7 minutes per game with the Illawarra Hawks.
Standing at 6’4″, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will secure a spot in the Bucks’ rotation next season. This choice by the Bucks is considered one of the most surprising of the first round.
NBA Analyst Dan Devine’s Take on A.J. Johnson’s Selection
Despite the unexpected nature of Johnson’s selection, NBA analyst Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports named him one of the winners of the draft night. Devine praised Johnson for attending the draft despite not being projected as a first-round pick and for celebrating his selection with his family at Barclays Center.
Devine noted, “You don’t get invited to the green room, you show up anyway, and you get to shock the world by landing in the first round, celebrating with your family in the stands at Barclays Center, and then making your way down to the stage to dap up the commish? I’ve got to imagine it doesn’t get much better than that.”
The Bucks’ Draft Strategy and Missed Opportunities
The Bucks had several options for their 23rd pick. The selection of center Kel’el Ware by the Miami Heat at 15th overall and the Denver Nuggets trading up to 22nd to select center Daron Holmes II from the Dayton Flyers disrupted Milwaukee’s plans. The Bucks could have chosen center Kyle Filipowski from Duke but opted for Johnson instead, leaving many Bucks fans puzzled.
Johnson has a lot to prove with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his performance in the upcoming season will be closely watched.
Leave a Reply