BBNBA: Keldon Johnson scores 26 points in Spurs loss

The spotlight on Keldon Johnson has grown much brighter this season as the former Kentucky forward is playing next to the most hyped rookie since LeBron James. Victor Wembanyama, a unicorn’s unicorn, will put the San Antonio Spurs on national TV significantly more often than their likely sub-500 record would otherwise dictate. Thus far in the season, that hasn’t seemed to bother Keldon Johnson.

Johnson led the Spurs in scoring last season at 22 points per game, but he was really the only viable threat on the entire roster. Now alongside Wemby who is averaging more than 20 points through his first six NBA games, Johnson’s numbers have dipped a bit, but the two make up a formidable one-two punch that NBA teams cannot sleepwalk through.

On Sunday, Johnson led the Spurs with 26 points in his team’s 123-116 loss to the Toronto Raptors. He also added six rebounds, three assists, and two steals while turning the ball over zero times.

Johnson will continue to find a solid niche as he learns to play off the Wembanyama, and he’ll likely be doing so in front of many more eyeballs than last season.

Nick Richards continues to improve

Now in his fourth NBA season, the trendline keeps going up for Nick Richards. The former Kentucky center is averaging over 17 minutes per game this season and is shooting 76 percent from the field. He has been a beast down low, averaging over 12 boards and 4.2 blocked shots per 36 minutes played.

On Sunday, Richards scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the Charlotte Hornets’ 124-118 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He also earned the highlight of the game and nearly put the Charlotte play-by-play announcer in the hospital with a heart attack.

Richards finished a fast break with an acrobatic and-one reverse layup that sent the booth into an absolute frenzy. Keep it up, big fella.

Find something that brings you as much joy as Eric Collins watching Nick Richards running the break 😂 pic.twitter.com/P87DCH6mJu

— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) November 6, 2023

Other BBNBA Notes

• PJ Washington had a not-so-bad finish on a fast break himself during the game. He threw down a left-handed dunk that earned its own burst of excitement. Washington, fresh into his $48 million deal, finished the game with 20 points and four rebounds.
• Finally, Shaedon Sharpe, who just last week looked at the box score, saw he had played 46 minutes and said, “I had to ask how many minutes were in a game because I was confused,” continued to light it up for the Blazers. He had 18 points against the Grizzlies including a standard highlight bucket.

BBNBA Statistics for 11/5/2023

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Keldon Johnson (SAS)	116-123 L vs. TOR	26	11-18 (2-4)	6	3	2	0	0	-17	38
PJ Washington (CHA)	118-124 L vs. DAL	20	8-15 (1-4)	4	1	0	0	0	+8	34
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	100-112 L vs. MEM	18	7-15 (3-8)	8	3	1	1	3	-16	41
Nick Richards (CHA)	118-124 L vs. DAL	12	6-7 (0-0)	9	1	0	1	0	-5	21
Devin Booker (PHX)	120-106 W vs. DET	DNP-Calf	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

• 7:00: Warriors @ Pistons
• 7:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Pacers (Jackson, Tshiebwe: 2-way)
• 7:00: Mavericks @ Magic
• 7:00: Wizards @ 76ers (Maxey)
• 7:30: Bucks (Livingston, T. Washington: 2-way) @ Nets
• 7:30 (NBA TV): Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt: out) @ Heat (Herro, Adebayo)
• 8:00: Jazz (Juzang: 2-way) @ Bulls
• 8:00: Kings (Monk, Fox: out, Lyles: out) @ Rockets
• 8:00: Celtics @ Timberwolves (Towns)
• 8:00: Hawks @ Thunder (Wallace, Gilgeous-Alexander)
• 9:00: Pelicans @ Nuggets (Murray)