AUBURN, Ala. – When Johni Broome took the court at the NBA G League Elite Camp in May, he didn't know what to expect. He was one of the better big men in the SEC last season, but he thought this would be a step up in competition.
In the first game, Broome finished with 23 points and four rebounds. (Highlights)
"Going into it, I thought it was going to be a guard showcase," he said. "That's how most combines and showcases are. But as a big fella, I was getting the ball, I was able to showcase my skills. I feel like that first game opened my eyes to see where I stacked up against everybody else at the combine."
Broome followed his 23-point performance from the first game with 17 points and eight rebounds on the second day of competition.
After three days, it was clear he was one of the top players in attendance. It came as little to no surprise then when he got a knock on his door after the Elite Camp and received an invitation to participate in the NBA Combine. But it was no small feat. The NBA Combine had always been one of his dreams. It was that next step toward the ultimate dream.
Broome didn't slow down either. As the level of competition rose, he elevated his game to match it. He scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in one NBA Combine game.
"Once I got to the NBA Combine, I kind of feel like I belonged there," he said. "It was another step, better players and things of that nature, but it was the same thing. The first game I played well, the second game I played well. Talking to the NBA teams and having interviews, it just made everything feel surreal. It gave me confidence with my game."
When the combine wrapped up, Broome had a decision to make. Turn pro or come back to Auburn. Initially, he had put his name in the draft, planned to do a couple workouts with teams and get some feedback before returning. However, he turned some heads at both the Elite Camp and the NBA Combine. The next level was closer than he realized.
"It was back-and-forth," Broome said. "Some days, I was saying I was going to go. Other days I would wake up and say it might be better if I come back. Ultimately, I decided to come back just to work on some things. Being more explosive, being able to move better. They want to see me make an outside shot more. They want to see me playmake a little bit more with the ball in my hands. Making better passes. Just showcase my skills."
Broome was overwhelmed by the response from the Auburn fans when he announced he was coming back for another year. His teammates and coaches were excited, too.
"It was amazing," he said. "They all welcomed me back with open arms."
As he enters his second season on the Plains, Broome is now one of the veterans on the team – a "weird" feeling he says. He's hoping to improve on last season where he was named Second Team All-SEC after leading Auburn in scoring with 14.2 points per game and finishing top three in rebounds (8.4) and blocks (2.4) per game.
Most importantly, Broome wants to win. That's been the focus since coming back.
"Right now, I'm just building chemistry with my teammates, my new guys, and the older guys as well," he said. "Making sure everybody is gelling, making sure we're all on one page, locking in on the little things in the summer.
"The thing I love about the new guys is they all work. They're in the gym a lot. I love to see that because it makes me work more as well. Everybody likes competitiveness. If I see you in here, I'm going to try to come in here more, try to beat you in the gym. I feel like we're developing a great culture right now with our work ethic. Everybody has a great attitude.
"But ultimately, I want to win. Winning holds the most value to me in the game of basketball. So, just helping my team win, go further than we did last year and make some noise."
INCOMING COMBINE INVITES⚡️
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) May 15, 2023
Congrats to Johni Broome (@JohniBroome) from @AuburnMBB on advancing from #EliteCamp to the Microsoft Surface #NBACombine! pic.twitter.com/23oiMh4MzW