Pacers President: MSU's Alize Johnson can be a 'junkyard defender' in the NBA

Show Caption Hide Caption Pacers GM on Alize Johnson: ‘He has an amazing ability to find rebounds.' Pacers’ GM Kevin Pritchard on Alize Johnson, of Missouri State, who they chose with the 50th pick in the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Alize Johnson made it clear that he was all about basketball in his two years at Missouri State and he made that clear to the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers made Johnson the first Missouri State player selected in the NBA Draft in 31 years when he was taken with the No. 50 pick on Thursday night.

Pacers President Kevin Pritchard said after the draft on Thursday his organization has known about Johnson "for a couple years."

Pritchard shoed appreciation for the former Missouri State star's toughness on the court and what he'll do to win a game.

"He's a guy that if you said 'go eat some glass and we'll win the game,' he'll say 'do you want salt or pepper?'" Pritchard said.

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Pritchard said he wanted to get Pacers head coach Nate McMillan a player you could throw in late in the season to play tough defense. He said he thinks Johnson could be a "junkyard defender."

He also complimented Johnson's rebounding ability. He averaged 11.6 rebounds per game during his senior year at Missouri State.

"I think he has an amazing ability to find rebounds at his position," Pritchard said. "If you draw a circle and say this is his rebound area, you can draw a big, big circle."

Pritchard did say he doesn't expect Johnson to make a big impact during his rookie season and that it'll take time for him to develop.

He pointed to Johnson's shooting ability, saying there's a little mechanical issue but he doesn't anticipate that holding him back for long.

"He lives in the gym," Pritchard said. "He's hungry."

The Pacers also picked point guard Aaron Holiday out of UCLA with the No. 23 pick in the first round.

Holiday and Johnson are two grinders with a mentality the Pacers president wants to carry throughout his basketball team.

"We want toughness," Pritchard said. "Those guys are as tough as they come in the draft."