2015 NBA Draft picks: Oklahoma City Thunder select Dakari Johnson
He was taken No. 48 overall.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dakari Johnson has been drafted with 48th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's the fifth Kentucky Wildcat to be selected so far. The 7-footer had to battle for playing time with the dominant Kentucky frontcourt that started the season 38-0.
The big man isn’t full of athleticism, but he makes up for it with bruising play and great footwork on both sides of the ball. Playing alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Lyles, Johnson averaged 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 16.4 minutes per game. Those numbers balloon to 15.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per 40 minutes.
Johnson doesn’t have a ton of range with his jump shot, but he can score in the lane with a slew of powerful post moves. Defensively, he utilizes his size and strength in the post and is an effective stopper down low. He’s not speedy and will need to work on getting up and down the court, but Johnson has an NBA-ready body that will be able to provide valuable minutes.
In Johnson the Thunder get a project, but a big body. Johnson doesn’t have a ton of offensive skills, but he’s big and can take up space in the paint. He knows how to move his body down low and can eventually become a productive NBA reserve.
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