We heard the Dakari Johnson whispers before the Kentucky Wildcats even headed to the Bahamas to play their six summer exhibition games. Dakari has slimmed down, Dakari’s conditioning is much improved. We all looked forward to seeing how a slimmed down Dakari Johnson would perform in his sophomore season.
It has been a bit of a mixed bag for the big fella this year. His points per game are up from 5.1 last season to 7.0 a game this season. His field goal percentage is down from 56.9% to 50.7% this season. His rebounds are up from 3.9 a game as a freshman to 5.3 as a sophomore.
Despite all of Kentucky’s depth Johnson’s minutes are up to 17.4 per game as opposed to 14.1 a season ago.
The trim version of Dakari Johnson has definitely benefited in terms of getting up and down the court. He changes ends way better this year than he did last year. There have been games where he has been surprisingly swift in getting from point A to point B. His put back dunk against Georgia is a perfect example. He was trailing the play but was swift enough to get down the court and into the lane to make the play.
Could he have made that play last season?
Possibly, but it would have been quite a bit more difficult for him. I tend to lean on the doubtful side.
His lack of girth this season has plagued him a bit in the paint down on the low block. Last season he would bump and bang and carve out space for himself a little bit easier than he has at various points this season. Last year he was able to throw his weight around (literally and figuratively) a little more. This season, especially in the early going, he would do his drop step and find that defenders were swatting it back in his face.
Last year those guys were getting cleared out by the extra bulk. No matter how much weight Dakari gains, loses or carries on his frame he is not going to be an explosive above the rim type player. He will always have to rely on using his body to get position. So this season has no doubt been an adjustment as he gets used to playing at a lighter weight.
It reminds me of former Cat Nazr Mohammed. Big Naz had a lot more weight to lose than Dakari when he came to Kentucky but, like Johnson, he was a below the rim guy. He also had to get used to playing the game at a lighter weight.
It worked out well for him. He’s had a very nice long NBA career due to all his hard work. Dakari could very well do the same.
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