Chaney Johnson

Chaney Johnson's path tells you plenty about his motor. He starred at Division II UAH — Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 2022-23 — before betting on himself with a jump up to Auburn, where he settled into a bruising energy role off the bench and helped the Tigers reach the 2025 Final Four. Undrafted in 2025, he grinded through an Exhibit 10 waiver and 16 games with the Cleveland Charge before the rebuilding Nets handed him a two-way deal in December 2025. What stands out is efficiency: he shot better than 54% from the floor across 17 NBA games as a rookie, the mark of a forward who knows his lane — finish inside, crash the glass, defend multiple spots — rather than one reaching for shots he shouldn't take. A Division-II-to-NBA climb rarely happens without that kind of self-awareness.