Keldon Johnson Rockets Up Spurs All-Time List: Inside the Breakout Season Fans Can’t Ignore

San Antonio—Keldon Johnson’s transformation from volume scorer to hyper-efficient spark plug has shifted the Spurs’ trajectory and ignited league-wide conversation about the 26-year-old’s ceiling. Since moving to the bench full-time, Johnson has trimmed his usage to a career-low 17.8% yet is averaging 13.2 points in just 22.9 minutes, powered by a blistering 65.2% effective field-goal rate and 41.8% shooting from three. Half of his attempts now come at the rim, where he’s finishing 70.8%, a shot diet that has propelled him to the front of the Sixth Man of the Year race. The statistical leap couldn’t be better timed. With Victor Wembanyama blossoming into a franchise cornerstone and offseason addition De’Aaron Fox commanding defenses, coach Mitch Johnson has freed Keldon to attack tilted floors instead of forcing tough looks. The result: San Antonio owns a top-five bench net rating, and Johnson just passed Marco Belinelli for fifth on the Spurs’ all-time reserve scoring list—an eye-catching résumé boost for awards voters. Yet success has a price: rival executives are dialing to gauge Johnson’s availability ahead of the trade deadline. Despite a team-friendly contract that descends to $17 million by 2028, his name surfaces regularly in rumor mills, with contenders seeking a two-way wing who can stretch the floor and bully smaller defenders in transition. San Antonio’s stance remains that Johnson is part of its core unless an offer accelerates its timetable, but the chatter itself underscores how valuable his all-around game has become. Fantasy managers and bettors have taken notice as well. Johnson ranks top-30 among small forwards in per-minute production, and sportsbooks have slashed his Sixth Man odds from +4000 in October to +600 entering January. Should he maintain elite efficiency—and perhaps log a signature performance on national TV—the award could be his to lose. For now, Spurs fans relish a homegrown talent thriving in his optimized role. Whether Johnson hoists hardware in April or headlines deadline drama in February, one thing is clear: the league is paying attention, and “Big Body” is delivering big results.