Pistons' Van Gundy: Johnson will have to earn minutes

Orlando, Fla. – Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy likes what he has seen from first-round draft pick Stanley Johnson. He's glad he used the eighth pick to select Johnson over a host of other talented players.

That said, Van Gundy insists that Johnson must earn his minutes, no matter how well he's played in the Orlando Summer League this week. In Van Gundy's world, minutes are earned, not given, and Johnson must begin to earn those minutes when training camp begins in the fall.

"I think it's important that they (young players) play when they deserve to play," Van Gundy said. "And not just, 'We're going to play our guy.' I know some people believe in that. I don't."

Van Gundy is an old-school guy. He doesn't care how high Johnson was drafted. He doesn't care how well he's played. And it doesn't matter that Johnson said he plans to start this season – or at least that is his goal.

Van Gundy is looking for long-term success for the franchise.

"I think it inhibits a guy's development when he's simply handed minutes and doesn't have to do anything to earn them and thus there is no reason to work hard or change the way you play," Van Gundy said.

Van Gundy likes the way Johnson plays but remains cautious.

"I think he's played well. I think he's shot the ball better than some people expected," Van Gundy said. "He's made plays off the dribble. I've been impressed with the passes he's made off the dribble, which going in, quite honestly, I had questions about."

Much was made of the Justise Winslow vs. Stanley Johnson game Monday night. The Pistons passed on the highly-touted Winslow with the eighth pick for Johnson. It was not a big deal to Johnson and Winslow because they've played against each other dozens of times from third grade on up.

"You always like to see him play against good players, but I've been at this long enough that I don't get real pumped up if a guy plays well in summer league, and I don't get too depressed if he doesn't," Van Gundy said. "There is just not a lot of carryover."

Added Van Gundy of Johnson: "It is good for him to play. It is good for him to learn. It is good to be able to look at strengths and weaknesses and know what we want to work on the rest of the summer. But I know a lot of summer league MVPs that get no minutes during the year."