Chaney Johnson arrived in Brooklyn with a few headlines. Five games in, he’s starting to earn more.

The Nets signed Johnson to a two-way contract on Dec. 25, and he’s been solid in his first week of real NBA minutes. Entering Wednesday’s matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center, the undrafted forward is averaging 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in five appearances while shooting 50% from the field and 44.4% from 3-point range.

Johnson hasn’t looked like a two-way player trying to force himself into the picture. He’s looked like a player trying to fit and doing it by winning the possessions that don’t require a play call. He’s been active, he’s defended, he’s rebounded and he’s taken the shots that come without hesitation.

Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers was the best example. Even in a 114-95 loss, Johnson produced a performance the Nets couldn’t ignore, setting career highs with 17 points and nine rebounds while committing zero turnovers in 25 minutes off the bench. He led Brooklyn in scoring on a night when the available starters never found their rhythm.

Head coach Jordi Fernández didn’t hesitate when asked what he learned from it.

“I mean, 17 and nine is pretty elite,” Fernández said. “He plays bigger than what he is. His length — he may get overlooked because nobody knows him very well, but he can guard almost everybody. He’s super active, super athletic. He can shoot the 3. He does everything well and he doesn’t try to do too much.”

For a player fighting for NBA minutes, “trying to do too much” is usually the trap. Johnson has avoided it so far. He’s played within possessions, cut when he’s supposed to cut, filled space when the ball swings and made himself useful defensively without gambling himself out of position.

Fernández has tied Johnson’s emergence to what Brooklyn is doing right now as a team. The Nets are using these games to evaluate, to learn who can handle minutes, who can string together good possessions, and who can be part of the team’s future.

“You see that every time he’s been on the court, it’s positive,” Fernández said. “His minutes, where he won his minutes, and that’s great to see. And that’s why we’re going through this process. These games are not wasted. These games are for us to see how these guys take advantage of their minutes, how much better they can get, and also for us to go into the summer and understand, make decisions, understand what we have.”

Johnson has also been learning what the NBA demands physically. He said the biggest surprise has been how much stronger and faster the league feels, even for someone who thought he was ready for it.

“It’s a lot more physical than I thought it was,” Johnson said. “I think I’m a strong guy, but nah. I remember Jalen Duren, he just moved me out of the way. I was just like, yo, these guys are a lot stronger, a lot faster, a lot more talented.”

The Nets have asked him to adapt on the fly, too. Johnson said he hasn’t played the 5 “too, too much” in his career, but he’s taken the role because the Nets have needed it and because he understands what a two-way opportunity really is.

“I would just say just being as coachable as I could be,” Johnson said. “I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to play at the highest level in basketball. So, it’s whatever the coach wants me to do.”

His teammates have noticed. Rookie guard Nolan Traoré praised Johnson’s versatility and called him an all-around player, a quick read from someone who has already shared the floor with him in minutes that mattered.

Five games aren’t enough to make a final judgment, but it’s enough for a first impression. Johnson has been efficient, he’s been active and he’s already had one night where he looked like he belonged in a real rotation.

With the Nets still searching for answers, that’s a start.

“I mean, getting some wins, just stacking some wins up,” Johnson said. “Just doing all we can to continue showcasing our talent and our camaraderie and just trying to put some wins together.”