AJ Johnson is reportedly headed to the Memphis Grizzlies after the team traded Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Johnson and NBA draft picks.
While the major acquisition from the trade is a protected 2030 first-round pick and two second-round picks, Johnson is still only 21 years old and will be on his fourth team since being drafted in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
As the Grizzlies continue to stockpile picks, the team is still over the roster limit with a surplus of guards, meaning the roster will remain fluid and there’s no guarantee Johnson will be a part of the Grizzlies 2026-2027 roster. Johnson is still currently on his rookie deal and is set to earn $3 million in 2026-2027.
Here’s what to know about Johnson.
AJ Johnson is an NBA journeyman already
Since being drafted in 2024, It’s been a basketball odyssey already for AJ Johnson’s NBA career. With the No. 23 pick, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Johnson in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Johnson appeared in six games for the Bucks, later spending some time with the Milwaukee Herd, the Bucks’ G-League team. After less than a full season, the Bucks traded him to the Washington Wizards.
Johnson played significant minutes for the Wizards at the tail end of the 2024-2025 season. After starting the 2025-2026 season with the Wizards, the team sent him to the Dallas Mavericks in the Anthony Davis deal.
After playing 23 games with the Mavericks and ending the 2025-2026 season in Dallas, Johnson once again finds himself on the move.
AJ Johnson chose NBL over college basketball
As a high schooler, Johnson was originally committed to the University of Texas as a four-star recruit. Before he could ever get there, Johnson decommitted and chose to play for the Next Stars program in the NBL, Australia’s professional league.
He was the first American to opt to join the NBL since LaMelo Ball did so in 2019.
Johnson played for the Illawara Hawks in the 2023-2024 season and averaged 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 8 minutes per game. Johnson later dropped to the late first round after being projected as a lottery pick before the 2023-2024 season.
Phoenix Suns’ Jalen Green mentors AJ Johnson
Both Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green and AJ Johnson were once Fresno kids.
Green met Johnson when he was only 10 years old. Despite Green being three years older than Johnson, he took it upon himself to mentor Johnson. The two have formed a tight relationship.
Green is already well established in the NBA, as Johnson looks to continue finding his footing in the league. Johnson often refers to him as his “big brother.”
Reach Commercial Appeal sports intern Said Bravo at said.nonoal@commercialappeal.com
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What to know about new Grizzlies guard AJ Johnson, including childhood mentor
