Johnny Juzang and Jaylin Williams are the first Vietnamese-American players to play in the NBA, the most prestigious basketball league in the world. With impressive shooting ability and flexible running, Johnny Juzang is considered to have great potential.
Let’s take a look at some basic information about this star with The Sporting News.
Who is Johnny Juzang?
Johnny Juzang was born on March 17, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. His father, Maxie Juzang, is Creole-American and a mixed ethnicity of European and African descent. His mother, Hanh Payton-Juzang, is 100% Vietnamese.
Johnny Juzang had an impressive high school career and attracted the attention of many scouts. However, his development slowed down during his first year at the University of Kentucky.
In his sophomore year, Johnny Juzang transferred to UCLA in his hometown of Los Angeles, where he played more and more impressively. The magical journey of UCLA, an underrated team, to the semifinals of the NCAA March Madness 2021 helped him make the All-Star team, receiving media attention.
However, Johnny Juzang decided to stay at UCLA for another year instead of registering for the NBA Draft. In the 2022 season, Johnny Juzang slowed down once again due to injury. He was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, but was given a minor contract by the Utah Jazz, playing for the NBA G-League affiliate team Salt Lake City.
In the 2024/25 season, Johnny’s playing time increased significantly, and he also performed better.
Johnny Juzang’s brother, Christian Juzang, is also a star of Harvard University. Christian Juzang returned to Vietnam to play for Saigon Heat and won the 2020 VBA championship. Christian Juzang is also a key member of the Vietnam basketball team.
Johnny Juzang’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Johnny Juzang has the ability to shoot from any position and has quite impressive scoring statistics. During his playing days at UCLA, Johnny Juzang averaged 15.8 points.
However, Johnny Juzang does not have strong defensive ability. This is an important factor if you want to find a place in the NBA. In addition, Johnny Juzang’s physique is not too impressive compared to players playing in the same position.
