On Sunday night, the San Antonio Spurs got blown out by the Golden State Warriors, losing 148-106. Brandin Podzimski led all scorers with 27 points, and the well-rounded Warriors had six players score in double-digits.
For the second game in a row, the Spurs’ scoring effort was led by Keldon Johnson, who scored 19 points on 8-13 shooting. Rookie Stephon Castle fell back to Earth, posting only nine points. He broke his streak of nine games in a row with double-digit points.
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Johnson has taken a backseat in recent seasons after breaking out in the 2021-22 season, but he has seemingly embraced the smaller role. He led all players in March with 249 points off the bench.
Mar 30, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) drives in against Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) in the second half at Frost Bank Center.© Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Johnson–the longest-tenured player on the roster–has always been lauded for his high-intensity play and his energy, which is infectious both on the court and in the locker room.
“Keldon’s been great,” praised veteran Harrison Barnes. “He’s definitely one of the higher energy guys that we’ve had that consistently before and after the All-Star break has just been a lively spirit for us in the locker room, a spark for us on the court. And it’s been great to just see him just continue to build off good performance after good performance.”
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After being included in mock trades and rumors for the last few seasons, Johnson has solidified his status as a key bench player for the Spurs moving forward. The Spurs seem to have a pretty solid starting five, at least when De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama are healthy, but Johnson helps round out their depth.
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Under contract for two more seasons at $17.5 million per year, Johnson is expected to be in San Antonio for the long haul, and if he keeps playing at this level, he could be offered an extension at the start of next summer.
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Related: Spurs’ Rookie Stephon Castle Gives Reason For Individual Success