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New York Notes: Johnson, Evbuomwan, KAT, Knicks

January 7th 2025 at 7:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Nets wing Keon Johnson is getting some extra run as a result of injuries up and down the roster, giving him an opportunity to showcase a broader range of skills, writes Bridget Reilly of The New York Post.

With Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson and Ben Simmons all unavailable in a 123-94 blowout loss to the Sixers on Saturday, Johnson helped guide the club’s offense. The guard scored 15 points while grabbing eight rebounds and handing out eight assists.

“I’m always trying to prove myself and just show what I can bring to the league and to the table for my team,” Johnson said Saturday. “I feel like each night I get more and more comfortable, but my role doesn’t change. It doesn’t waiver. I know that I come in, play defense, play as hard as I can, and everything goes on [from there]. So, that’s what I’m focusing on, night in and night out.”

Johnson has thrived while playing in the stead of Thomas, who has missed all but two games since November 25 due to hamstring issues. Since that date, Johnson has averaged 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 19 games (15 starts) for Brooklyn.

There’s more out of New York:

  • The aforementioned health issues compelled the Nets to press newly signed two-way player Tosan Evbuomwan into service for the first time all year against Philadelphia on Saturday, Reilly notes in another piece. Brooklyn brought in Evbuomwan to help after he had some impressive games for the club’s NBAGL squad, the Long Island Nets. “This is what I work for, these types of opportunities,” Evbuomwan said. “Again, really blessed to be back here. So, whatever, everything that comes with it, I’m ready to take it in stride and kind of attack it. Collectively, I just got here but the team spirit is high.” After going undrafted out of Princeton in 2023, Evbuomwan wound up playing 17 games last season for the Grizzlies and Pistons. Through two games with Brooklyn, the 6’8″ forward is averaging 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 22.5 minutes per contest.
  • Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the club’s Monday tilt against the Magic with a right knee tendinopathy. The 103-94 defeat to Orlando represented New York’s third consecutive loss following a nine-game win streak, with Jericho Sims replacing Towns, whose versatility as a scorer was badly missed, notes Peter Botte of The New York Post. “He obviously brings a lot to the game, but it’s unfair to the rest of the guys on the team, who put in all the work, to say without him we weren’t able to do a lot,” All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson said of playing without Towns. “We just need to come ready to play with energy, regardless of what happens.” In his 34 healthy games this year, the seven-footer out of Kentucky is averaging 25.3 points on .550/.440/.828 shooting splits. He’s also pulling down 14.0 rebounds and dishing out 3.4 assists per night.
  • The Knicks’ outlook this year is looking particularly sunny. Accordingly, James L. Edwards of The Athletic makes five New York-related predictions for the forthcoming calendar year. Edwards predicts a timeline for the Knicks’ next significant trade, the team’s postseason upside, and more.
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