Every path to the NBA isn't built the same. Some players lean on raw talent. Others have to grind for every opportunity. Chaney Johnson, the Brooklyn Nets two-way forward, firmly falls into the latter group. Growing up in Alabaster, Alabama, a tough town south of Birmingham, nothing was handed to Johnson. After graduating from Thompson High School in 2021, he had no offers from major programs. Instead, he committed to Division II Alabama/Huntsville. For some players, missing out on the Division I level can be discouraging. For Johnson, it only provided more fuel for his fire. Despite not landing at one of the nation's top programs, he remained locked in on the next opportunity. 'I was on to the next thing the whole time,' Johnson told NetsDaily in an exclusive conversation last week. 'I need to try to get somewhere out of high school. Okay? Nah, I'm gonna go D2. Okay? I need to keep on working so I can get somewhere after D2. I'm at Auburn, I need to keep on working so I can get somewhere out of Auburn.' Just a few years after receiving zero D1 offers out of high school, Johnson is in the NBA with the Nets on a two-way contract, topping off his first season with a double-double Sunday night: 16 points, 13 rebounds. Looking back on his journey to the league, Johnson credits his 'Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,' above all else. 'One, all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and Jesus, without him, I would be nothing,' said Johnson. 'I always fall back on him, just giving me the strength to continue to go.' One of the biggest turning points in Johnson's career came at Auburn. After earning Gulf South Player of the Year honors in 2023 and being named a two-time first-team All-Gulf South selection (2022, 2023) at UAH, Johnson transferred to Auburn. While he remained focused on the next opportunity, he wasn't particularly looking to leave UAH. 'He didn't want to leave,' his longtime trainer, confidant, and primary representative, Kelley Hall, told ND. 'I kind of felt like I was twisting his arm, like, 'Yo man, I've got these schools reaching out—you need to go in the portal.' After visiting Auburn, though, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl didn't let him leave the building, and the 23-year-old had decided that it was the place where he wanted to play the final years of his NCAA career. He ultimately played an integral role in the Tigers' Final Four run during the 2025 NCAA tournament, averaging 8.3 points and 6.5 rebounds across four tournament games while providing much-needed production off the bench. From the moment he arrived, Johnson brought with him his most valuable asset: a relentless work ethic. He was a guy who, as soon as he got to Auburn, was immediately our hardest worker, 'Auburn basketball head coach Steve Pearl, who was an assistant on the staff during Johnson's time with the program, told ND. 'He was immediately a guy that you just had to almost kick out of the gym and just worked his tail off nonstop.' Although he went undrafted in last June's NBA draft, Johnson remained determined to reach the league. Subsequently, he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Summer League. Though he didn't make the team's 15-man roster, Johnson began to make a name for himself in the basketball world. Now, with the Nets, Johnson is proving that his hard work and dedication have paid off. He's a shining example of what it means to be a true professional in the NBA.