The Houston Rockets selected Arizona guard Nick Johnson with the 42nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the pick adds one of the better athletes in the draft to their backcourt.
2014 NBA Draft Results: Houston Rockets select Nick Johnson with 42nd pick
The junior guard was a leader on the court for Arizona and will begin his pro career in Houston.
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Johnson was at times one of the best players on a talented Arizona team that also included lottery pick Aaron Gordon. The Pac-12 Player of the Year averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his junior season.
At 6’3 in shoes and 198 pounds, Johnson mostly played off the ball with the Wildcats, but he also played backup point guard and initiated the offense at times. Though his physical build puts him at point guard, Johnson developed an above-average jump shot and hit 36.7 percent of his three-pointers in 2013-14. Johnson is a freak of an athlete and with his strength could potentially play as an undersized shooting guard.
Immediately, Johnson will provide an athletic presence in transition and an aggressive defender at the point guard spot. While not a great playmaker off the bounce, Johnson can run an offense and make the smart plays.
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