UCLA Basketball: Ex-Bruins Guard Hoping To Silence Haters In Second NBA Season

Our fingers are crossed that he can.

Former UCLA Bruins shooting guard Johnny Juzang, fresh off inking his second two-way contract with the Utah Jazz in as many seasons, is looking to prove he belongs on an NBA roster this season.

The 6'6" wing started his college career at the University of Kentucky under head coach John Calipari during the 2019-20 season, before transferring to UCLA that offseason. He made an instant impression, being named to two All-Pac-12 Teams as well as an NCAA All-Tourney and NCAA All-Region squad. He went undrafted in the summer of 2022, but quickly signed on with the Jazz as a free agent.

During his two UCLA seasons, Juzang averaged 15.8 points on a .436/.356/.854 slash line, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals a night. 

He appeared in 18 contests for the Jazz last year, averaging 4.8 points and 2.2 boards. Across 17 games with Utah's NBAGL affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, Juzang averaged 20.8 points on .429/.364/.907 splits, 5.4 rebonds and 3.3 assists.

In a fresh conversation with Sarah Todd of the Deseret News, Juzang is hoping to disprove skeptics who don't think he'll be able to stick in the league. 

“I’ve got a lot to show everybody,” Juzang said. “Look, I mean, I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. I’ve always felt like I’m a great player and I’ve always worked super hard. But a lot of my career, I feel like I’ve been overlooked and even coming into the NBA and going undrafted, trust me, I don’t forget that.” 

In Summer League play earlier this month, he averaged 17.8 points on .532/.522/.643 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 dimes.