Latest news with #KobeJohnson
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Atlanta Hawks rookie has high expectations heading into NBA 2K26 Summer League
The Atlanta Hawks are carefully observing Kobe Johnson. The undrafted rookie and former UCLA Bruins guard made a bold statement about his defensive expectations heading into the NBA 2K26 Summer League earlier this week. Kobe Johnson spoke to the media on Tuesday, July 8, as the Atlanta Hawks prepared for the start of the summer league. When 92.9 The Game reporter Caleb Johnson asked Kobe Johnson what he wanted to show during the summer league, he responded with a bold and confident statement. "I want to show that I'm the best defender in the country," Kobe Johnson said. Those are strong words coming from a rookie about to make his first professional performance, but he has the pedigree to back it up from his college days. Johnson made three straight All-Defensive Teams in college: two for the Pac-12 with USC and one for the Big Ten with UCLA, according to UCLA. His defense was stellar for the collegiate game, but being the best as a pro rookie, especially early on, will be a tough task for anyone. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks ranked near the middle of the pack defensively with a 114.8 defensive rating, according to the NBA. If Johnson's defensive prowess continues at the professional level, then the Hawks have an exciting future ahead with the brotherly duo of him and small forward Jalen Johnson. He will have a chance to show what he can do, starting on Friday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time on ESPN 2 against the Miami Heat.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UCLA basketball players prepare for 2025 NBA summer league journey
UCLA will be well represented in the NBA 2k26 summer league 2025. Six former Bruins have been confirmed as participants on this year's summer league rosters, with two of them being rookies. As of July 5, the former UCLA guards playing in this year's summer league are the Minnesota Timberwolves' Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark, the Golden State Warriors' Jules Bernard, and the two rookies: the Orlando Magic's Lazar Stefanovic and the Atlanta Hawks' Kobe Johnson. The Philadelphia 76ers announced they will have their 2024 second-round pick power forward, Adem Bona, on a summer league roster. Jaylen Clark is a particularly intriguing player to watch, given that the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the NBA Western Conference Finals the past two seasons. If Jaylen Clark can develop his game and become a more prominent role player, the T-Wolves could take the next step and reach the franchise's first-ever NBA Finals. The other player who will take center stage at the summer league is Kobe Johnson, an NBA rookie who was not drafted and needs to show the Atlanta Hawks a reasonable level of upside to justify a permanent place on the 2025-2026 roster. The Hawks made significant roster upgrades in the offseason. Kobe Johnson sticking on the Hawks would be a great story if it happens. The summer league games will be played in Las Vegas from July 10-20 and are available live on ESPN or NBA TV, according to the NBA.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UCLA's Kobe Johnson projected as top-80 prospect for 2025 NBA draft
Kobe Johnson of UCLA basketball probably won't hear his name called on Friday in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft. ESPN rates him the No. 78 prospect on the board in a draft which will have only 59 picks. The big story of draft week is not Kobe Johnson, but Rutgers prospect Ace Bailey dropping on everyone's draft board, as For The Win reports: "There is a lot to unpack about why Ace Bailey's draft stock is apparently plummeting lately, especially after he measured a bit shorter than expected at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. "While this is much lower than where he was projected in our latest consensus rankings at No. 3 overall earlier this month, fans shouldn't expect him to fall much lower than this (No. 8). It's possible that Bailey's representation wants him to land in a big market where he can get a lot of playing time, and the Nets would provide exactly that." Kobe Johnson will almost certainly get his big chance to impress an NBA team at summer league ball. One team is likely to take a chance on him with a contract after the conclusion of the draft this Friday. Stay tuned.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peoria man's 15-year sentence reduced by Appellate Court
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — It was a win, sort of, for a Peoria man who appealed his conviction to a higher court. The 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield kept the conviction in place but did cut some time off his 15-year sentence, according to a 20-page order released on May 27. The order, written by Judge David Vancil with Judges Thomas Harris and James Knecht concurring, left in place convictions for reckless discharge of a firearm and for being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with a chain of events that occurred on Oct. 28, 2023, that led to a man's death. Man sentenced in connection to deadly Peoria traffic collision The judges found now-retired Peoria County Circuit Judge Paul Gilfillan improperly allowed Demetrius Drummond to be sentenced for an extended term on reckless discharge charge. At the time, it appeared the judge as well as the attorneys thought he was eligible for an extended term of six years instead of the typical three years because of his past record. But because the course of conduct that night — shooting a gun in the air — was similar in both cases, the appellate judges found it wasn't appropriate to give him an extended term so they reduced his time on that count to three years. 'The State agrees that defendant's possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of that firearm were related, and there was no change in his criminal objective. Therefore, the State concedes that defendant's conviction for reckless discharge was not eligible for extended-term sentencing. The State also concedes that the unauthorized sentence was plain error,' the judges wrote. The judges left in place the 9-year prison term for the possession charge. According to Peoria police, officers responded to the area after an alert from the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system indicated nine rounds had been fired around 12:41 a.m., Oct. 28, 2023. People had gathered at a house party on Thrush Street that night. And some point, a man — later determined to be Drummond — fired a gun in the air. '. . . people began to flee. One person, later identified as Kobe Johnson, appeared to crouch down in front of a parked car. Someone else got into the car and drove away, driving over Johnson and leaving him lying in the middle of Thrush Street,' the order stated. Man arrested in connection with deadly Peoria traffic collision When they arrived, officers found an injured man on the road. That man was 24-year-old Kobe Johnson of Peoria who suffered multiple blunt-force trauma and crush injuries after being hit by the car and likely died instantly, according to the Peoria County Coroner's Office. Using witnesses' statements and cell phone records, prosecutors were able to convince a jury that it was Drummond who was the shooter. Drummond at the August 2024, trial opted to represent himself after his public defender said he wasn't ready to go to trial with only six weeks to review the evidence. With the court's ruling and the fact that Drummond is eligible for day for day 'good-time' credit, he could be released in a bit less than five years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UCLA senior Kobe Johnson wants to showcase two key skills in draft workouts
UCLA senior Kobe Johnson wants to showcase two key skills in draft workouts UCLA senior Kobe Johnson said this week that he is enjoying the NBA predraft process and is eager to prove himself to teams in private workouts against his peers. Johnson was a Big Ten All-Defensive team selection this past season, averaging 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 36.2% shooting from 3-point range. He ranked 19th in the country in defensive box plus-minus (plus-5.0). The 6-foot-6 guard participated in the G League Elite Camp last week, averaging nine points and 3.5 rebounds in two scrimmage games. He has also worked out with three teams, including the Golden State Warriors, and wants to showcase two key areas of his skill set in those settings. "No. 1 is just prioritizing that I'm the best defender in this draft," Johnson said on Thursday. "That is something that I'm trying to come out and show every single workout, every single time I'm performing, no matter who is watching. And I'm a great 3-point shooter. I know my role coming into the NBA and what it is going to be, so to be able to be a great shooter with my role is very key." Johnson established himself as a three-time all-conference defensive team honoree in college between UCLA and USC. He was considered one of the top defenders in the country and developed into a consistent shooter from beyond the arc, making him a high-level 3-and-D prospect. The 22-year-old is considered a potential second-round pick, given his abilities and versatility on both ends of the court. He is having a strong predraft process and should continue to be a hot name on the circuit, with additional workouts scheduled in the coming weeks. For now, Johnson wants to continue to perform well in those sessions and enjoy the process. He is looking forward to the upcoming month before the draft on June 25-26. "It is going to be a hectic month," Johnson said. "I'm just trying to take everything day by day and try to enjoy every single moment of it. This is the only time I've gone through this, and the only time I'm going to go through this, so I'm trying to cherish every single moment and be a dog every time I'm out there."
