inside the nets How Chaney Johnson is channeling ‘Brooklyn grit’ in grinding his way toward a bigger Nets role By Brian Lewis Published Oct. 13, 2026, 6:40 a.m. ET Chaney Johnson (31) drives to the basket in a preseason game against the 76ers on Oct. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect At this point a year ago, Chaney Johnson was an undrafted rookie without an NBA contract. He hustled and worked his way into a two-way deal with the Nets.
Now, the über-athletic Johnson is threatening to force his way from a two-way feel-good story into being more than that. Maybe into a standard contract. Or, even into rebuilding Brooklyn’s rotation.
In essence, Johnson had the Nets’ curiosity. But he’s rapidly getting their attention.
“We just come in and make each other better, you know what I’m saying?” Johnson told The Post. “Of course, we’re playing for a job, but we’re playing to win as well. So it’s like we just want to make each other better. It’s always the ‘next man up’ mentality.
