AJ Johnson Named Italian League MVP After Stellar 35-Point Performance
American-Jewish forward AJ Johnson was named Serie A MVP of the round after scoring 35 points for Trieste. The former Golden State draft pick is turning heads in Italy.
American-Jewish forward AJ Johnson continues to make waves in Italy, earning MVP honors for the seventh round of the Italian Serie A after a stellar performance for Pallacanestro Trieste.
Trieste captain Michele Ruzzier praised the 22-year-old rookie, telling the Corriere dello Sport that he has never witnessed a player so young leave such a massive impact on the Italian league. Johnson joined the squad just days before the season opener in Milan and has continued to improve daily through his extraordinary shooting ability and physical strength.
In a dominant 116-100 victory over Virtus Roma, Johnson exploded for 35 points in 35 minutes, leading Trieste to its fourth consecutive win. He shot 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, grabbed 11 rebounds including five offensive boards, dished out two assists, blocked three shots, and recorded one steal without committing a single turnover. His performance yielded a stellar efficiency rating of 46, while the team's 116 points set a new club record for a top-flight league game.
Since the 1987/88 season, only five other players in the Italian league have registered at least 35 points, 11 rebounds, and six three-pointers in a single match. Johnson's 35 points and efficiency rating of 46 both rank second in club history, trailing only Adrian Banks.
Having already been named October's Defensive Player of the Month in Italy, Johnson remains focused on returning to the Golden State Warriors, who selected him 54th overall in the NBA draft. He has also expressed interest in potentially representing the Israeli national team in the future.
