The winning team of the NBA Cup \u2014 the league\u2019s new in-season tournament \u2014 is set to receive a tidy bonus, with each player earning over $500,000 if they\u2019re able to take home the trophy. <\/p>\n
For most NBA players, that isn\u2019t a huge amount of money, but they certainly won\u2019t be turning it down. An extra half-million dollars could be used for whatever these multi-millionaires desire: vacations, cars, clothes, homes, jewelry, etc. But one former Kentucky Wildcat has a unique approach to how he plans to spend the money if his team ends up winning the Cup. <\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson<\/a> wants to use that money on a llama. Yes, a llama \u2014 the farm animal that spit in your face at the petting zoo when you were in third grade. <\/p>\n Ahead of Wednesday night\u2019s quarterfinal matchup of the NBA Cup against the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson told reporters<\/a> that he was interested in purchasing a llama with his prize winnings. He\u2019s apparently building a pond on his ranch just outside of San Antonio, and already has an Old McDonald-level amount of animals hanging around.<\/p>\n Johnson said he has 11-12 goats, four mini cows, two horses, a mini donkey, and about six chickens \u201cright now\u201d. He, his family, and his best friend serve as the farmhands and take care of all the animals.<\/p>\n But now he wants a llama \u2014 you know, like most 26-year-olds do. He could probably buy a dozen llamas with $500k. <\/p>\n A little story about Keldon Johnson and his dream to buy a llama: Why the Spurs are on their way to Vegas in the NBA Cup by beating Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, even without Wemby. pic.twitter.com\/tU73IQYs4I<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) December 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n And Johnson is only two wins away from making his llama dreams a reality. The Spurs beat the Lakers on Wednesday night, 132-119, to advance to Saturday\u2019s semifinals. Johnson played well, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds on 5-9 shooting. He scored 13 of those points in a five-minute stretch to blow the game wide open. Finding a way to upset the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder (24-1) this weekend will be a tough challenge, but when llamas are on the line, anything is possible. <\/p>\n It sounds wild when I type the words out, but Johnson is now in his seventh season in the NBA, all with the Spurs after his one-and-done season at UK (2018-19). The 6-foot-6 wing was asked to score the ball early on in his tenure with San Antonio, but now that he\u2019s surrounded by young talent (namely Victor Wembanyama, who is currently injured) and an All-Star point guard in fellow former \u2018Cat De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a>, his role has changed. Johnson averaged 22 points per game in 2022-23, which dipped to 15.7 in 2023-24, then to 12.7 in 2024-25. <\/p>\n But this season, he\u2019s found a comfort zone. Johnson is averaging 13.1 points and a career-high 6.5 rebounds in 24 minutes per outing off the bench. The Virginia native is taking fewer threes and is instead getting in the paint more. His 57.4 field goal percentage is the highest since his rookie season. Head coach Mitch Johnson called him the \u201cheart and soul\u201d<\/a> of the Spurs following Wednesday\u2019s win. He is someone who enjoys doing the dirty work and whatever it takes to impact winning. San Antonio is 17-7 on the season and in 5th place in the Western Conference, in part because of Keldon Johnson, who has yet to see the playoffs as a pro.<\/p>\n Go get that llama, Keldon!<\/p>\n