Spurs Injured Star Reveals His Status For Opening Night

After missing all of the preseason games thus far with a dislocated shoulder suffered during pre-camp workouts, 4th-year San Antonio Spurs star Keldon Johnson has revealed that he expects to be ready for the start of the season.

"I feel like I will be back before opening night"

Keldon Johnson has great news about his dislocated shoulder.@RickKamlaSports| @adaniels33| @spurs pic.twitter.com/NZzSJrNqkD

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 6, 2022

"100% I feel like I'll be back before opening night. Even the last game of preseason or before that... I'm feeling great, now it's just making sure... it's all the way healed up so I'm ready for the season. But I've had no setbacks and I feel amazing right now. I feel the best I've felt in a very long time, so I'm ready to go."

The 6'6" forward says he's lost about 20 pounds over the offseason, and head coach Gregg Popovich says there's a difference. “He is quicker, he moves better, and he tells me he looks better, too,” Popovich said with a laugh.

Pop also acknowledged that Johnson will be playing more exclusively at his most natural position at the three. “[Johnson] is really a wing player,” Popovich said. “He’s not really a ‘four,’ so this is putting him more at his natural position.”

With more responsibility on offense, Johnson broke through for 17 points per game last year, while shooting just a tick under 40% from three-point range (39.8). With Dejounte Murray traded, Johnson is expected to take another big jump this season.