Chaney Johnson looking strong with Nets in Summer League action

The Brooklyn Nets didn’t get the result they wanted Saturday, but Chaney Johnson made sure there was still plenty to like.

Johnson was one of the few constants in Brooklyn’s 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with 20 points on an efficient 9-for-13 shooting while adding 10 rebounds and five steals. The box score tells part of the story. Watching him play filled in the rest. It was absolutely awesome.

With Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. unavailable, Johnson found himself carrying a bigger share of the offensive workload, and he didn’t shy away from it. Brooklyn looked his way repeatedly in the paint, where he rewarded that trust by finishing through contact, attacking the rim and playing with the kind of confidence Summer League is built to showcase.

His two dunks were impossible to miss, bringing a little energy to a Nets team that struggled to find much rhythm late in the game. They weren’t empty highlights, either. Both came at moments when Brooklyn needed a spark.

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Johnson’s impact wasn’t limited to scoring. He stayed active on the glass, came away with 10 rebounds and seemed to have a hand in everything defensively. His five steals reflected a player who wasn’t waiting for the game to come to him. He consistently made life uncomfortable for Atlanta’s offense.

That’s the kind of all-around effort coaches remember, especially during Summer League.

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Brooklyn will have a chance to bounce back Tuesday when it faces the Sacramento Kings. If Johnson brings the same energy and activity on both ends of the floor, he’ll give the Nets another reliable option while continuing to build a strong case for a larger role.