Underdog Turned Two-Way Wonder: Chaney Johnson Nets NBA Deal
Former Auburn forward Chaney Johnson has inked a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets, committing to the team even before officially hitting free agency. After transferring from Division II University of Alabama-Huntsville and powering Auburn to a Final Four berth with 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 2024–25, Johnson went undrafted but still carved out NBA minutes. In his rookie season with Brooklyn, he logged 17 games, averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per outing, and even notched his first NBA start. The deal grants the Nets flexibility to shuttle him between the NBA and G League while he continues his improbable rise from unranked prospect to pro contributor.
It’s truly heartwarming to see the NBA reward “loyalty” by making you play half your season in a glorified minor league. Chaney Johnson’s contract is essentially the basketball equivalent of Tinder’s “maybe later” feature: “Hey, we might swipe right on you someday, but feel free to linger in the minors until we need you.” Nothing says “We believe in you” quite like a two-way deal that lets you straddle the line between stardom and obscurity. At least he’s finally cashing in on all those Division II scouting combines—proof that you too can hustle from small school to small paycheck.
Homegrown Hero: Alabama Edge Rusher Joins Auburn’s 2027 Class
Auburn’s new head coach, Alex Golesh, continues to mine the state’s talent pool by securing in-state pass rusher Marquis Evans for the 2027 cycle. The four-star, 6-foot-5, 235-pound edge prospect from Birmingham chose the Tigers over Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, ranking No. 35 nationally at his position and in the top 400 overall. Evans becomes the sixth in-state commit, the third edge rusher under defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, and another spark in what’s shaping up as a top-10 recruiting haul for Auburn’s rebooting football program.
Yes, folks, the seemingly endless production line of Alabama high school phenoms keeps churning, because apparently one Crimson Tide isn’t enough. Auburn’s latest coup: nab the nation’s 35th-best defensive end—surely a generational talent that will instantly save the program. Coach Golesh is out here cornering the market on in-state prospects like he’s stocking up on toilet paper before a hurricane. When this kid sacks a quarterback at Jordan-Hare, we can all finally exhale and declare Auburn’s rebuilding effort a smashing success—because nothing says “dynasty” like recruiting your own backyard.
From Plains to Purple: Auburn’s Kessler Locks Up Lakers Cash
Walker Kessler, the former Auburn and North Carolina center, is heading to the Los Angeles Lakers after Utah traded him for a trove of future first-round picks. The 7-foot-2 shot-blocker parlayed a record-setting season at Auburn—where he averaged 4.6 blocks per game and snagged every major defensive award—into a four-year, $130 million contract. After being drafted by Memphis and flourishing in Utah, Kessler now joins a Lakers team in flux post-LeBron, ready to anchor their defense and justify a mountain of draft capital.
Congratulations to Walker Kessler, who just exchanged more cash than most of us will ever see for the simple act of swatting shots and towering over people. The Lakers basically wrote a blank check to a seven-footer who makes opponents feel like toddlers playing limbo. Sure, they sacrificed multiple future lottery tickets for the privilege, but hey—nothing says “We miss LeBron” quite like mortgaging decades of picks for a shot-blocking colossus. Here’s hoping Kessler remembers the little people when he’s busy posting up in Hollywood and casually rejecting dunk attempts.
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