Does JaJuan Johnson need to bulk up?

by JR99 on Feb 2, 2012 1:18 AM EST

It's becoming common wisdom that JJJ needs to add some weight to his lanky body. I wonder why. He's plenty strong enough right now (per reports from training camp and observing him in the post). And the theory that you need bulk to compete with the tall trees in the game doesn't hold a whole lot of water once you consider that some of the best players in history have been around Johnson's size. Off the top of my head, there's Bill Russell (6'10" 220lbs) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7'2" 230lbs). Johnson is listed at 6'10" 221lbs.

Hell, if Tayshaun Prince (listed at 6'9" 215lbs, but sure looks less than that) can succeed in this league all these years, then JJJ surely can. Prince looks like a skeleton next to JaJuan. (Well... next to anyone, I guess.)

I think each player has an optimal weight point for the work he has to do. It's entirely possible, even probable, that Johnson is at his.

JJJ's body most closely resembles KG's, and nobody ever told KG to gain weight (and if they did, they were mistaken). I'd leave JaJuan as he is. If he bulks up naturally a bit, over the years, then so much the better so long as it benefits his game.

Meanwhile, the kid's looking like he has tremendous potential. Will he grow into it in time to help us this season? Here's hoping. (Imagine having 2 KGs. Yeah, that works for me!)

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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No

he can play as an PF or SF. You only need bulk if you can only shoot 3 feet away from the basket. Rebounding is a matter of positioning and using your body but strength is a plus.

by elvyn on Feb 2, 2012 2:53 AM EST reply actions

If he is going to play in the paint...

I think he does need to add some muscle bulk.

You do not want him to put on too much weight as it may reduce his speed and quickness, but 20 -25 pounds would be good I think.

by fordescort on Feb 2, 2012 9:00 AM EST reply actions

nit-picking, but

yes, they did. When Garnett first came into the league, he played small forward with the Wolves bench unit. The reason why will sound familiar- he was a good shooter and he was very athletic, but he was too twiggy to play down low.

That obviously changed very fast. The CW on Garnett for his whole career, though, has been that he would rather shoot the fadeaway than back you down and go to the basket. There’s some stupid thing that broadcasters pick on like this about every star- Lebron’s post game, Dwight’s face up game, Shaq’s foul shooting, etc. For what it’s worth, not muscling up was KGs thing.

by sofutomygaha on Feb 2, 2012 9:49 AM EST reply actions

bulk?

Rebounding:

Skinny: see Dennis Rodman

Can’t Jump: see Larry Bird

by P stoff on Feb 2, 2012 10:30 AM EST reply actions

JJ can jump.

But, yeah your point is true.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Feb 2, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Clarifying

i was just using examples of how these two players had ’shortcomings" that never seemed to hinder them. Maybe a bad attempt at irony (ha)

by P stoff on Feb 2, 2012 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think it's so much of a 'need to' as much as a 'probably will'.

Men generally don’t reach peak muscle mass until around ages 25-28 or so.

So just naturally from that (not to mention weight training and nutrition) he’ll probably add on 10-15 pounds over the next couple of years.

His weight right now is not really any less than that of a lot of big-time PFs back at the same age.

I’m not worried about his weight.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Feb 2, 2012 10:35 AM EST reply actions

Heat

So it looks like the Heat are trying to beef up their front line. They are waiting to hear from Pryzbilla and Kenyon Martin. I was hoping we would snag the white gorilla but he’s leaning towards Chicago or Miami. Let’s blow more teams out so JJ can get more pt.

by O'Neal on Feb 2, 2012 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Big Hands Johnson

The bulk well come natural, just give the man playing time.

by juanpan on Feb 2, 2012 1:39 PM EST reply actions

Bulk up nop...

LOWER BODY STRENGHT!!!

by Rogerio on Feb 2, 2012 5:49 PM EST reply actions

The whole bulking up will help not necessarily in his offense but in his defense. He’s a good shot-blocker, but once a remotely heavy player tries to post him up, that player isn’t going to have much trouble fishing for a foul or getting an easy layup.

by paolost on Feb 2, 2012 6:41 PM EST reply actions

I like the idea other posters had about him playin small forward his current frame would be better suited for that IMO

by throwedoff on Feb 3, 2012 11:22 AM EST reply actions

10 pounds. I think part of Johnson being affective is his speed. So if he gains ten he can still use his speed. But be able to play vs the bosh, boozer, amare, favors of the NBA… right now he looks to small. If he can spread out the ten pounds throughout his entire body it would be perfect

by jdunn123 on Feb 3, 2012 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Good post, but...

Off the top of my head, there’s Bill Russell (6’10" 220lbs) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7’2" 230lbs)

The problem with this is that these guys were JJJ’s age literally 40-55 years ago. The average NBA player is much bigger these days.

If he’s going to play inside, he’ll have to get bigger, but I’m sure he soon will now he’s in a pro team’s weight program.

by Bent on Feb 3, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Untrue!

This is just flat out false.

When Russell played, centers were on average far bigger and stronger than they are today. In addition to Wilt, who may have been the strongest player of all time, Russell had to face an array of powerful centers: Nate Thurmond, Wayne Embry, and many more. Take an ordinary center like the old Bull, Tom Boerwinkle, a bit younger than Russ. He was immense.

If Dwight Howard played back then, he would find that half the league’s centers were stronger than he was.

In general, the advantage players have today over the past, if any, is speed and athleticism. The game is played much faster than it was.

In fact, the game is so fast today that the classic old fashioned center is disappearing. Power is not as important as speed.

Of course, JJ does not play center. But the point of the original post is that lack of bulk did not hurt Russel dealing with bulk. And that is absolutely correct. Russell gave away considerable bulk t guys he competed against, and he did OK.

by Thresholder on Feb 7, 2012 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Bulking up is necessary, but not too drastically.

I have been following KG for more than 12 years so far. He was asked to bulk up almost every season in Minnesota. Actually Danny Ainge said once in the broadcast in 2000 that KG could only reach his full potential by adding some muscles on and gaining the ability to post up in the paint.

So KG’s performances reached to the next level in 2002-2003 season after he added on around 15 pounds. Adding some weight on for extremely slim players definitely helps with the battle in the paint and maintaining higher level of energy in the play, esp. when they have to deal with players like Lebron and Howard nowadays.

by Ann Xing on Feb 4, 2012 2:12 AM EST reply actions

Tayshaun Prince comparison doesnt work because Tayshaun is a SF. Russell and Jabbar played in a league with smaller/less athletic players, so those comparisons dont work either. KG is the closest thing, and I think it’s most reasonable to say KG is an exception. Jajuan is too light/weak right now. He gets pushed all over by opposing PF/Cs. Unfortunately, “bulking up naturally” isnt likely to happen. People forget, that this kid already forced himself to gain 15 pounds in college, to get ready to go pro. His “natural” size is much smaller than his current size. If anything, he may struggle to maintain what he has now.

by dtrader on Feb 4, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions

This.

JuJuan looks scrawny, but he is pretty strong. Deceptively so. He puts up 300 or more on the bench. He probably could use a couple more pounds, but it will be hard for him to do that.

by herby20 on Feb 6, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions