A Dream Fulfilled
Jun 23, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
He wears his contagious smile and some blue and orange upon his shirt that matches the Oklahoma City Thunder team colors. He wears a silver chain with a "KJ" medallion. And, at the moment, he sits alone in a room talking in a Zoom interview. It's 11:53 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2023. All is right in the world of Keyontae Johnson.
"I feel like I definitely have perspective on life and the game of basketball," he says, "knowing it can be taken away from you. I just want to take advantage of every moment."
Taking advantage of every moment has been Johnson's mantra. It will continue to be his mantra. And forever and ever, he might live by that mantra knowing every day is important. Johnson, who was taken with pick No. 50 overall in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder — his favorite NBA team growing up — knows every minute and every second matters. And that's what the Thunder is getting from the 6-foot-6, 230-pound native of Norfolk, Virginia, along with his sweet soft mid-range jump shot, an ability to step back and drain a 3-pointer and his athleticism to drive by the bigger players inside the paint.
Some players have "it." Johnson has a little bit more. And Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault and Johnson's new teammates will take notice through his energy. He's a living testament not to take things for granted. Which can be a lesson for us all. Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang and Johnson's former teammates know all too well. A little bit of him rubbed off on them during his year in Manhattan. Which can only be seen as a blessing. And, oh, the blessings that will follow the 24-year-old as he ambles onto the practice court for that very first time, and how the blessings will follow him into the locker room and travel with him to NBA destinations across the country.
Two years after nearly having everything, including his life, taken away during that game at Florida State, blessings are chasing Johnson down.
"Every day I give it my all," he says. "I just appreciate OKC for allowing me to fulfill my dream."
Exactly three months after K-State outlasted Michigan State 98-93 in an overtime thriller that we won't soon forget, Johnson enters this new stage in life. K-State fans won't be far behind. Two-hundred and ninety-one miles south of Manhattan is a NBA basketball destination. In fact, Oklahoma City is the closest NBA organization to Manhattan.
Two words: Road. Trip.
"It's definitely special knowing I'm going to have the fan base with me," he says. "It's not that far. I know they're going to travel and support me. It's definitely a blessing."
He joins a Thunder roster that features former Florida teammate Tre Mann along with point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shooting guard Josh Giddey, forward Jalen Williams, guard Luguentz Dort, and much more. At age 24, Johnson is among the oldest players on the squad — only Lindy Waters III (25 years old), Kenrich Williams (28) and Dario Saric (29) are older — that bursts with potential after going 40-42 and finishing third in the Northwest Division last season.
"Everybody is going to be hungry," Johnson says. "The young core, we're going to push each other every day to get better. It's only going to make us better as a team."
Most would argue the Thunder got better as a team on Thursday.
"When I got that call, everything fell off my shoulders," Johnson says. "It's the best feeling I've felt in a while."
He adds: "It's a crazy, surreal moment."
Yet it's a reality – his reality – and it's something he won't take lightly.
His tattoo reads: "WRITE YOUR OWN STORY."
He isn't finished writing it yet.
But he's writing it beautifully.
He wears his contagious smile and some blue and orange upon his shirt that matches the Oklahoma City Thunder team colors. He wears a silver chain with a "KJ" medallion. And, at the moment, he sits alone in a room talking in a Zoom interview. It's 11:53 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2023. All is right in the world of Keyontae Johnson.
"I feel like I definitely have perspective on life and the game of basketball," he says, "knowing it can be taken away from you. I just want to take advantage of every moment."
Taking advantage of every moment has been Johnson's mantra. It will continue to be his mantra. And forever and ever, he might live by that mantra knowing every day is important. Johnson, who was taken with pick No. 50 overall in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder — his favorite NBA team growing up — knows every minute and every second matters. And that's what the Thunder is getting from the 6-foot-6, 230-pound native of Norfolk, Virginia, along with his sweet soft mid-range jump shot, an ability to step back and drain a 3-pointer and his athleticism to drive by the bigger players inside the paint.
Some players have "it." Johnson has a little bit more. And Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault and Johnson's new teammates will take notice through his energy. He's a living testament not to take things for granted. Which can be a lesson for us all. Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang and Johnson's former teammates know all too well. A little bit of him rubbed off on them during his year in Manhattan. Which can only be seen as a blessing. And, oh, the blessings that will follow the 24-year-old as he ambles onto the practice court for that very first time, and how the blessings will follow him into the locker room and travel with him to NBA destinations across the country.
Two years after nearly having everything, including his life, taken away during that game at Florida State, blessings are chasing Johnson down.
"Every day I give it my all," he says. "I just appreciate OKC for allowing me to fulfill my dream."
As a Third Team All-American and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Johnson accomplished big things during his only season at K-State. He averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.1 minutes while helping take K-State to the Elite Eight. Along the way, he made friends, signed thousands of autographs, slapped five with countless fans, and found a second home in the Little Apple.With the No. 50 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Thunder selects Keyontae Johnson from Kansas State University ⚡ pic.twitter.com/8jXpDhPe52
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2023
Exactly three months after K-State outlasted Michigan State 98-93 in an overtime thriller that we won't soon forget, Johnson enters this new stage in life. K-State fans won't be far behind. Two-hundred and ninety-one miles south of Manhattan is a NBA basketball destination. In fact, Oklahoma City is the closest NBA organization to Manhattan.
Two words: Road. Trip.
"It's definitely special knowing I'm going to have the fan base with me," he says. "It's not that far. I know they're going to travel and support me. It's definitely a blessing."
He joins a Thunder roster that features former Florida teammate Tre Mann along with point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shooting guard Josh Giddey, forward Jalen Williams, guard Luguentz Dort, and much more. At age 24, Johnson is among the oldest players on the squad — only Lindy Waters III (25 years old), Kenrich Williams (28) and Dario Saric (29) are older — that bursts with potential after going 40-42 and finishing third in the Northwest Division last season.
"Everybody is going to be hungry," Johnson says. "The young core, we're going to push each other every day to get better. It's only going to make us better as a team."
Most would argue the Thunder got better as a team on Thursday.
"When I got that call, everything fell off my shoulders," Johnson says. "It's the best feeling I've felt in a while."
He adds: "It's a crazy, surreal moment."
Yet it's a reality – his reality – and it's something he won't take lightly.
His tattoo reads: "WRITE YOUR OWN STORY."
He isn't finished writing it yet.
But he's writing it beautifully.
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