Why was AJ Johnson picked in NBA draft Round 1 despite no green room invite? Exploring possible reasons

The Milwaukee Bucks selected AJ Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard who played in the NBL (National Basketball League Australia), with the 23rd pick in the NBA draft. The move was a shocking one, given that Johnson had been projected to land in the late first or early second round. In addition, Johnson didn't receive a green room invite, further leaving fans stumped.

The green room is an area in front of the stage where the selected players shake hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and pose for a photo. The green room invites are generally reserved for top players and those expected to draw the most attention.

This year, the NBA invited 25 prospects to sit in the green room, with each star allowed to invite a maximum of 10 guests to sit at their table.

Players who receive green room invites, such as Alex Sarr, for example, often invite friends and family. In the case of other players, such as Reed Sheppard, invites can also go to former coaches with whom they want to share the moment.

In the case of AJ Johnson, he wasn't a highly touted prospect, certainly not projected to be a first-round pick. However, the Bucks took a gamble on him by using their first-round selection to draft him over other prospects.

While his defense isn't up to par with others at his position, given his size and athleticism, the chance could be one that pays off tenfold for Milwaukee.

Hence, the Bucks seemingly ignored the cons of drafting him and made the bold choice to pick the late second-round projected prospect with their first-round selection.

"We’re really excited about AJ" - Milwaukee Bucks GM praises AJ Johnson on night of the draft

While the decision to draft AJ Johnson was seen as somewhat of a surprising one for Milwaukee, the Bucks front office had no qualms about the athletic guard. Although he is being viewed as more of a project, with the potential to develop into a key player for the team, the Bucks' front office is happy with its pick.

Following night one of the NBA draft, Milwaukee GM Jon Horst spoke about AJ Johnson, praising him for his growth over the past year. Despite the fact that he didn't get as much time on-court in the NBL as LaMelo Ball did during his time with the team, Horst credited Johnson with his growth off the court as well.

While speaking to media members, as relayed by BrewHoop, Horst said:

"Although he didn’t play a lot last year in a really competitive NBL in Australia, he grew a lot. Physically, he grew a lot. Mentally, he grew a lot. You could see improvements as you studied film and watched him.

"Then having the opportunity to spend time with him during the Draft combine process. We’re really excited about AJ. "

Of course, Milwaukee is a team in win-now mode with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. As such, AJ Johnson likely won't get much playing time in his rookie year. However, as Horst explained, as Johnson develops, the team will look to give him more and more opportunities on the court.