The role has disappeared a little in the NBA but the league was once full of enforcers, players responsible for protecting the stars by “punishing” overly aggressive opponents. It was the role of Charles Oakley with Michael Jordan, Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer for Isiah Thomas, or Udonis Haslem with Dwyane Wade.
But in San Antonio, Keldon Johnson is ready to take over this role alongside Victor Wembanyama.
“I know that I am on the field to play with my teammates but I’m also here to make sure my teammates are safe“ he explains at the San Antonio Express-News. “ If I feel like someone is trying to pick on him, I’ll be there. I am here for my brothers, my teammates with whom I fight every day. I’m watching (Wembanyama’s) back 100%. I will fight for him and I know my teammates will do the same. »
Those who would like to test the young Frenchman a little too harshly are warned. Especially since Keldon Johnson is not the only one who can play “Wemby’s” bodyguards, Zach Collins can also be there.
“He’s one of our nastiest players. (nasty in VO). You have to have a little nastiness on the pitch and that’s what he does naturallythanks to his competitive spirit and his take-no-prisoners attitude” explains Gregg Popovich about the titular pivot.
A description he could also have used for Jeremy Sochan.
“I think that in every team, in every team that wins, and for every coach who coaches teams that win, there are one or two players that people don’t really likeor against whom they don’t like to play »explains the sophomore. “Zach is definitely one of those guys, and I think I am, too. »
