Keldon Johnson's devastating new skill is fueling his Sixth Man candidacy

Longtime San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is putting the finishing touches on what could be a Sixth Man of the Year-winning season. That honor would be well earned and the ultimate reward for a player who has become the heart and soul of the Spurs.

Still, it hasn't always been easy for Johnson. He's had to reinvent himself several times after initially being seen as a potential three-and-D player coming out of Kentucky during the 2019 NBA Draft.

That never happened, but he did manage to average 22 points per game, albeit on a rebuilding Spurs team. But as they've gotten better, he's had to adapt to stay relevant.

Keldon Johnson's new skill is fueling his Sixth Man candidacy

This season has seen him turn his high-energy play into second-chance points. In fact, he leads the NBA in offensive rebounding for players under 6'7". It may not be a glamorous skill, but it's an effective one that has helped San Antonio this season.

The Spurs, despite having plenty of size with two 7-footers and several players 6'6" or taller, aren't a particularly effective offensive rebounding team. Therefore, having a wing crash the offensive glass has been huge in that regard.

Think about it. This team, despite having a top 10 offense, has struggled at times shooting from outside. The best way to help overcome shaky shooting performances is to attack the offensive glass.

What's so impressive about Johnson's offensive rebounding is how relentless he's been in probing for second-chance opportunities. Despite playing only 23.3 minutes per game, he is averaging a terrific 1.7 offensive boards.

Keldon Johnson is finding a way to harness his high-energy play

That's only slightly behind 7'4" Victor Wembanyama, who averages 1.9. That skill has given the Spurs' second unit a different identity. He's often paired with Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Luke Kornet.

There isn't a lot of spacing in those lineups, even though it usually features a starter. Still, Kornet is a dominant offensive rebounder, and Johnson is outstanding in his own right.

Better yet, he's turning those hustle plays into offense. He's scored 37 times on putbacks and tip shots, per NBA.com. That works out to be about 1.1 points per game.

He won't win a scoring title off of offensive rebounding, but it's made him far more efficient and consistent. His shooting percentage is up 3.7% over last season, and he's scoring points in fewer minutes, with his advanced stats up across the board as a result. That should help his case for Sixth Man of the Year.