The Detroit Pistons and Stanley Johnson have had a tumultuous relationship, as has the fan base relative to their expectations of the player Johnson should or shouldn’t be. However, Johnson has shown a ton of growth on both ends of the floor, particularly since the Pistons made the trade for Blake Griffin. With Johnson’s uptick in play, I’m curious how the fan base feels about him now.
The Detroit Pistons won’t make the playoffs, but considering the circumstances the team found itself it–Reggie Jackson missing half the season and the difficult task of developing chemistry with the addition of a star player mid-season–there is reason for optimism.
One of the things that has excited me in particular has been the development of Stanley Johnson.
Johnson has had a rather perplexing career arc with the Pistons.
During his rookie season, Johnson flashed his potential, though his performances were inconsistent. Of course, that’s to be expected from a rookie.
Johnson’s performance his rookie season peaked in stellar fashion. During the 205-16 playoffs, he exhibited his supreme competitiveness making big plays on both the offensive and defensive end.
Despite getting swept 4-0 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in round one, Johnson’s performance, was one of the bigger reasons fans were excited heading into the following season.
Johnson followed up his stellar play with a strong showing in the Orlando Summer League. It wasn’t until the preseason hit, where things started to take a turn for the worse.
His apparent lack of respect for team doctor’s advice lead to foot pain which started his sophomore campaign off poorly.
It also may have been the first time we got a glimpse of the issues that may have been manifesting between Stan Van Gundy and Johnson.
These issues, among others, lead to an underwhelming second season for Johnson.
Season three has been much better for Johnson, particularly in the second half of the season. Despite a rocky start offensively, Johnson’s play, for the most part, has been enlightening since the Pistons traded for Blake Griffin.
His defensive performances have remained strong, and his offensive game and aggressiveness has reach new heights.
It makes me think that he can develop into the two-way player many of us hoped he would become when the Pistons drafted him.
Next: What went wrong for the Detroit Pistons in 2017-18
Now that Johnson’s play has taken new heights, I want to gauge the pulse of Pistons’ nation.
What do you all think of Stanley Johnson now, and what are your expectations for him moving forward?