Drastically underrated Chicago Bulls players ready to breakout: Alize Johnson
If only the Brooklyn Nets and/or Indiana Pacers were ever to give the former Missouri State Bears 6-foot-7 and 215-pound power forward Alize Johnson more of an opportunity to shine in the spotlight. Johnson definitely proved last season with the Nets that he could be a special talent in the making in the early years of his NBA career.
Although Johnson doesn’t look to have the two-way skill set of a forward that is ever going to be a star in the NBA, he could be one of the more underrated and efficient reserve power forwards in the Eastern Conference. Johnson proved last season with the Nets that he can be an elite rebounder, a good rim protector, and a real disruptor on both ends of the floor.
Johnson is the type of power forward that could pull down four or five offensive rebounds per 36 minutes for the Bulls. Those extra possessions could be huge for head coach Billy Donovan next season.
The offensive glass is just one area where Johnson shines, though. His defensive rebounding percentage he put up with the Nets last season at 35.0 percent was not something you see too often. That actually ranked among the top 10 in the NBA last season among players that played in at least 15 regular season games.
Likely to get backup minutes at the four next season, Johnson could be a real breakthrough player that was a good value signing for Karnisovas and the Bulls earlier this month. He will be one of the most effective rebounders, on-ball forward defenders, and scorers from inside 10 feet for the Bulls heading into next season.