SAN FRANCISCO – Keshad Johnson knew exactly what he needed to do with two-and-a-half minutes left in Miami’s Summer League opener at Chase Center on Saturday.
Dashing through the open court adjacent to point guard Kira Lewis, the 6-foot-7 forward cut into the lane and made himself an inviting target for the Miami floor general.
Lewis rewarded the Oakland native with a well-timed flip pass, and Johnson hammered home an emphatic dunk.
“I’ve been in that position plenty of times, so I knew that if I just came down the middle, it was gonna open up,” Johnson told the Bay Area News Group.
He wasn’t lying. Few players from the Bay Area have the high-flying preps resume that Johnson boasts.
Six years ago, as a senior all-Bay Area News Group standout at San Leandro High School, Johnson thrilled spectators with a flurry of jams and highlight plays.
None stuck out more in his mind than a solo effort against Bishop O’Dowd in January of 2019.
“I got an outlet pass, took a couple of dribbles down and took off just inside the lane and dunked it,” Johnson remembered.
After a decorated collegiate career that took him from San Diego State to Arizona, Johnson spent his rookie 2024-25 season splitting time between the G-League and NBA for the Heat after going undrafted.
After getting a taste of playoff basketball in spot minutes last season, Johnson is set on proving that he can do more than rely on his prodigious athleticism to succeed on the court.
“I’ve been working on my jumper a lot,” Johnson said, before adding, “And for other skills, how to screen and how to get off of screens faster, and passing and making the right reads.”
He proved a willing rebounder in Miami’s first Summer League game against San Antonio, grabbing nine boards to go along with nine points.
But it was his demeanor that impressed coach Eric Glass more than any stat or individual highlight.
“He’s one of our vocal leaders, he’s one of our toughest competitors, so we’re looking for him to step out and bring that competitiveness to the group, and he’s done that the last three days of practice,” Glass said.
During a game that often felt like its participants were playing at half-speed, Johnson’s full-speed forays to the rim were a refreshing change of pace.
Showing out in front of loved ones who made the trip across the Bay Bridge also added motivation for Johnson.
“It feels great, and it is always a blessing to be able to play in front of friends and family,” Johnson said.