Keon Johnson Bio
Christopher Keon Johnson (born March 10, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. A shooting guard listed at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 185 lb (84 kg), Johnson played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers before entering the 2021 NBA draft, where he was selected 21st overall by the New York Knicks and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Across his first four professional seasons, Johnson suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Brooklyn Nets, also spending time with the Agua Caliente Clippers and Long Island Nets of the G League. In December 2025, he signed with the Maine Celtics, continuing his career as a developmental piece with NBA-level experience.
Early Life and Background
Keon Johnson was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on March 10, 2002, and grew up in the same small community that helped shape his early athletic identity. Two months before he began high school, he suffered open fractures in four fingers and lost consciousness after being thrown about 10 feet in a fireworks accident. He underwent surgery to repair blood vessels in his hand and avoid amputation, followed by eight weeks of intensive physical therapy before he could return to basketball activities.
His mother, Conswella Sparrow Johnson, was a two-time Class AAA Tennessee Miss Basketball winner in high school and went on to play at Auburn, where she was twice named All-Southeastern Conference. Her playing career helped establish an early basketball culture in the household and gave Keon a clear template for organized competition.
Path to Basketball
Johnson attended The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, where he developed into one of the most decorated high school players in the state. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game and earned Division II-A Tennessee Mr. Basketball honors. As a junior, he averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, led his team to the Division II-A state semifinals, and repeated as Tennessee Mr. Basketball.
Early in his senior season, Johnson suffered a season-ending meniscus injury, posting 30.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across four games before being sidelined. On August 6, 2019, he committed to play college basketball for Tennessee over offers from Ohio State and Virginia. By the end of his high school career, he was rated as a consensus five-star recruit and the highest-ranked player in Tennessee in the 2020 class, becoming the first top-ranked in-state prospect to commit to Tennessee since Robert Hubbs III in 2013.
Keon Johnson Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Johnson spent one season with the Tennessee Volunteers, arriving as a five-star recruit and finishing as a steady two-way contributor. On February 6, 2021, he scored a career-high 27 points in an 82–71 win over Kentucky, a signature performance that helped him earn SEC All-Freshman Team recognition. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game as a freshman and declared for the 2021 NBA draft on April 7, 2021, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Johnson recorded the highest maximum vertical leap in combine history at 48 inches, underscoring the athleticism that had defined his high school résumé. That measurement helped shape how NBA teams evaluated his projection as a combo guard with elite explosiveness.
NBA Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Johnson was selected with the 21st pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Quentin Grimes and draft considerations. He signed his rookie scale contract with the Clippers on August 6, 2021, and played in only 15 games during his rookie year, splitting time between the Clippers and their G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers.
On February 4, 2022, Johnson was traded, alongside Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, and a 2025 second-round pick, to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Norman Powell and Robert Covington. He made his Trail Blazers debut on February 24, recording four points and four rebounds in a 132–95 loss to the Golden State Warriors, and later set a career high of 20 points on April 1 in a 130–111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. During the 2022 NBA Summer League, he averaged 14.2 points per game and helped Portland win the Las Vegas Summer League championship, the team’s second in franchise history.
On September 27, 2023, Johnson was part of the three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, with the Phoenix Suns acquiring him before waiving him on October 23 ahead of the 2023–24 regular season roster cut deadline.
Brooklyn Nets Era (2023–2025)
On November 1, 2023, Johnson signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets, beginning a stint that stabilized his NBA career. He split time between the Nets and their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, while refining his role as a perimeter defender and transition scorer.
On July 21, 2024, Johnson re-signed with the Nets on a multi-year deal and went on to enjoy a breakout year during the 2024–25 season, emerging as a rotation piece who brought energy and athleticism to the second unit. His contract was later brought to an end on September 17, 2025, when the Nets waived him ahead of the new season, making him a free agent.
Maine Celtics Era (2025–Present)
On December 1, 2025, Johnson signed with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, joining the Boston Celtics’ developmental affiliate. The move gave him a platform to play consistent minutes and continue developing the half-court skills that complemented his elite athleticism.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson’s game is built around explosive athleticism, including the record-setting 48-inch maximum vertical leap he recorded at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine. He thrives in transition, uses his length to pressure the ball defensively, and has shown growth as a perimeter shooter during his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s career is anchored by his historic 48-inch vertical at the 2021 combine, his back-to-back Tennessee Mr. Basketball awards in 2018 and 2019, and his 27-point outburst against Kentucky as a Tennessee freshman. He also played a role in Portland’s 2022 Las Vegas Summer League championship run.
Keon Johnson Career Wins
Across his professional career, Johnson has collected a small but meaningful trophy case. His most notable team title came with the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2022 Las Vegas Summer League championship, where he averaged 14.2 points per game as a key contributor to the team’s second Summer League crown in franchise history.
NBA and G League Highlights
Johnson has not yet posted a verified NBA regular-season or playoff win total suitable for summary, though his role with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024–25 season represented his most productive NBA stretch. With the Maine Celtics, he continues to build a G League résumé as he works toward another NBA opportunity.
Other Wins & Performances
In college, Johnson’s individual accolades included SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2021 and two consecutive Division II-A Tennessee Mr. Basketball awards in 2018 and 2019. He set a career high of 27 points against Kentucky and tied his NBA career high of 20 points while with the Portland Trail Blazers, performances that bookend his scoring development from high school through the pros.
Keon Johnson Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Keon Johnson’s family through his mother, Conswella Sparrow Johnson. A two-time Class AAA Tennessee Miss Basketball winner in high school, she played at Auburn, where she was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection. Her career helped shape Keon’s early understanding of the game and the level of work required to reach college and professional ranks.
Personal Life
Johnson is the son of Conswella Sparrow Johnson and grew up in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, or children are not clearly supported by available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson’s 2025 calendar year was defined by transition. He began the year on a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets, coming off a breakout 2024–25 campaign that established him as a rotation wing in the NBA. On September 17, 2025, the Nets waived him ahead of the regular season, returning him to free agency and opening the door to a new chapter in his development.
On December 1, 2025, he signed with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, joining Boston’s affiliate as he worked to earn another NBA opportunity. The Maine Celtics gave Johnson consistent playing time and a defined role as an athletic, defense-first perimeter player.
Heading into the rest of the 2025–26 season, Johnson’s outlook centers on refining his half-court offense, sustaining the defensive energy that has always been his calling card, and showing that his late Brooklyn surge can translate into a sustained NBA role. With a clear developmental home in Maine, he has the platform to keep building toward his next NBA call-up.