Johnson Signs with Charlotte Hornets
Sep 12, 2024 | Men's Basketball
The second-year pro played in 9 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023-24
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former Kansas State All-American Keyontae Johnson has signed a contract to play with the Charlotte Hornets, the organization announced late Wednesday night (Sept. 11).
Johnson signs with the Hornets after spending the 2023-24 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which drafted him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent most of his first professional season with the Thunder's G-League team, the Oklahoma City Blue, helping them to a 21-13 record and their first G-League title in April. He scored 14 points in the decisive 117-100 win over the Maine Celtics on April 15.
Playing on a two-way contract, Johnson saw action in nine games for the Thunder in 2023-24, averaging 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. He scored his first NBA points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 11, 2024.
For the season, Johnson averaged 19.7 points on 53.1 percent shooting, including 40.4 percent from 3-point range, with 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 38 starts for the Blue. He was also selected to the G-League Up Next Game (the league's version of an All-Star Game).
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., was named a Third Team All-American by The Associated Press and NABC after averaging 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.1 minutes per game en route to helping K-State to a 26-win season and the Elite Eight in 2022-23. A finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward Award, he was also honored as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Johnson and the Hornets open the season on Sunday, Oct. 6 with a preseason game with the New York Knicks. The regular season tips off with a road game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Johnson signs with the Hornets after spending the 2023-24 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which drafted him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent most of his first professional season with the Thunder's G-League team, the Oklahoma City Blue, helping them to a 21-13 record and their first G-League title in April. He scored 14 points in the decisive 117-100 win over the Maine Celtics on April 15.
Playing on a two-way contract, Johnson saw action in nine games for the Thunder in 2023-24, averaging 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. He scored his first NBA points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 11, 2024.
For the season, Johnson averaged 19.7 points on 53.1 percent shooting, including 40.4 percent from 3-point range, with 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 38 starts for the Blue. He was also selected to the G-League Up Next Game (the league's version of an All-Star Game).
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., was named a Third Team All-American by The Associated Press and NABC after averaging 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.1 minutes per game en route to helping K-State to a 26-win season and the Elite Eight in 2022-23. A finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward Award, he was also honored as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Johnson and the Hornets open the season on Sunday, Oct. 6 with a preseason game with the New York Knicks. The regular season tips off with a road game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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