Johnny Juzang

Jonathan Anh Juzang Bio

Jonathan Anh Juzang is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League. Born on March 17, 2001, in Los Angeles, California, Juzang began his collegiate career with the Kentucky Wildcats before transferring to the UCLA Bruins, where he emerged as one of college basketball most potent scorers. He earned third-team All-American honors in 2022 after helping lead UCLA to the Final Four in 2021. Following his college career, Juzang entered the NBA as an undrafted player in 2022 and has continued developing his game at the professional level.

Early Life and Background

Juzang was born in Los Angeles to Maxie Juzang, who is Creole, and Hanh Juzang, who is Vietnamese. He grew up in the Los Angeles area and attended Harvard-Westlake School for high school. After repeating the eighth grade, Juzang quickly established himself as a standout high school player. In his freshman season, he averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two assists per game while helping Harvard-Westlake win the CIF Southern Section Division 1A championship. He recorded 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in the championship game.

Juzang continued his impressive development throughout high school. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, leading his team to a 22-6 record. In his junior season, he averaged 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game and was named the Mission League Most Valuable Player. He helped lead Harvard-Westlake to their first league title since 2011 after scoring 25 points in the championship game against rival Loyola. Juzang reclassified from the 2020 class to the 2019 class, making him eligible to play collegiately a year earlier. He was a four-star recruit and one of the top small forwards in his class.

Path to Professional Basketball

On May 10, 2019, Juzang committed to play college basketball for Kentucky over Virginia, choosing the Wildcats after the firing of Steve Alford at UCLA prevented him from building a relationship with new coach Mick Cronin. At Kentucky, Juzang played primarily behind Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley in his freshman season. His playing time was limited mostly to catch-and-shoot opportunities, and his defense was considered a weakness. On February 8, 2020, he scored a season-high 13 points with three three-pointers in a win over Tennessee. He averaged 2.9 points while shooting 37.7 percent from the field in 12.4 minutes per game during his lone season with the Wildcats.

After the season, Juzang announced his transfer from Kentucky. The COVID-19 pandemic and loneliness without his family drove his desire to return home to Los Angeles. He decided to transfer to UCLA to play under Cronin and was granted a waiver to play immediately without sitting out a season. This move proved transformative for his basketball career. He missed the first four games of the 2020-21 season with a stress reaction in his right foot but quickly became a starter and the team leading scorer. Against Washington, he scored a career-high 32 points in a 64-61 win, becoming the first Bruin to score at least half of his team points in a game since Reggie Miller 35 years earlier.

Jonathan Anh Juzang Career

UCLA Breakthrough (2020-2022)

Juzang emerged as a national sensation during the 2021 NCAA tournament. He became the third player in UCLA history to score at least 20 points in their first two NCAA tournament games, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Reggie Miller. In a 51-49 win over No. 1 seed Michigan in the Elite Eight, Juzang scored 28 points as UCLA advanced to their first Final Four since 2008. Eighteen of his points came in the first half, including a stretch where he scored 12 consecutive points for the Bruins. He became the first player to score at least half of his team points in a regional finals win since Oscar Robertson in 1960. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament East Region.

In the national semifinal against top-seeded Gonzaga, Juzang scored 29 points, including a basket to tie the game with 3.3 seconds remaining in overtime. However, Jalen Suggs made a 40-foot buzzer-beater to defeat the Bruins 93-90. Juzang averaged 22.8 points in six tournament games and was named to the 2021 All-Tournament Team. He scored 137 total points during the tournament, the second most by a UCLA player in NCAA tournament history behind Gail Goodrich 140 points in 1965.

Following the tournament, Juzang declared for the NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility. He briefly entered the draft process and appeared in first-round mocks before deciding to return to UCLA for his junior season. However, he struggled with injuries during the 2021-22 season, missing games due to a sore hip from a scooter accident, a sprained ankle, and a COVID-19 positive test. Despite fighting injuries and opponents game plans focused on stopping him, Juzang remained UCLA leading scorer. He was named a third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. He was also a finalist for the Jerry West Award, given to the top shooting guard in the nation. After UCLA lost to North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen, Juzang entered the NBA draft.

Utah Jazz Era (2022-2025)

Juzang went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft but continued his professional aspirations. He played for the Utah Jazz during the 2022 NBA Summer League, though his debut was delayed after he suffered a concussion in a car crash shortly after arriving in Utah. After the summer league, he signed a two-way contract with the Jazz. During his rookie season, he missed over a month with a serious wrist sprain. He made his NBA debut on February 28, 2023, in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, scoring three points in limited minutes.

On July 19, 2023, Juzang signed another two-way contract with the Jazz, signaling the team continued interest in his development. He showed significant improvement during the 2023-24 season. On March 15, 2024, he scored a then-career-high 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes off the bench against the Atlanta Hawks. Later that season, on April 7, 2024, Juzang scored a new career high of 27 points against the Golden State Warriors in a regular season game. On August 13, 2024, he signed a four-year contract with the Jazz, a testament to the progress he had made. However, on June 30, 2025, Juzang was waived by the Jazz.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2025)

Following his release from Utah, Juzang signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. On August 1, 2025, he signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Timberwolves. The organization later converted his contract to a two-way deal, allowing him to also play for their G League affiliate. This move represented a fresh start and opportunity for Juzang to continue establishing himself in the NBA.

Zenit Saint Petersburg (2026-Present)

After his time with the Timberwolves ended, Juzang moved overseas to continue his professional career. On February 28, 2026, he signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League. This move to a competitive European league represents a new chapter in his career, providing him the opportunity to develop his game in a different basketball environment while competing against international competition.

Playing Style and Strengths

Juzang is primarily known as a shooting guard with a versatile offensive game. His greatest strength is his ability to score the basketball, demonstrated by his 32-point performance at UCLA and his career-high 27-point game in the NBA. He possesses excellent three-point shooting ability and the capacity to create his own shot. His scoring instincts were on full display during the 2021 NCAA tournament, where he showed the ability to take over games offensively. While his defense was considered a weakness during his college career, his offensive production has consistently been his calling card at every level.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Juzang most celebrated accomplishments came during his UCLA career. His performances during the 2021 NCAA tournament, particularly his 28-point effort against Michigan in the Elite Eight and his 29-point showing against Gonzaga in the Final Four, established him as a clutch performer on the biggest stage. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Reggie Miller as the only UCLA players to score 20 or more points in their first two NCAA tournament games. He was named the East Region Most Outstanding Player in 2021 and earned All-Tournament Team honors. His 137 points during the 2021 tournament remain the second-most in UCLA history for a single NCAA tournament.

Jonathan Anh Juzang Career Highlights

Juzang compiled an impressive collection of accolades during his collegiate career before beginning his professional journey. At UCLA, he established himself as one of the premier scorers in the country, leading his team to a Final Four appearance and earning recognition at both the conference and national levels.

College Career Highlights

During his time at UCLA, Juzang was named Third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2022, the highest honor of his college career. He earned First-team All-Pac-12 recognition in 2022 after being named Second-team All-Pac-12 in 2021. His 2021 NCAA tournament performance was historically significant, as he became the third UCLA player to score at least 20 points in their first two tournament games. He scored in double figures in every tournament game that year, averaging 22.8 points per game. At Kentucky, he scored a season-high 13 points against Tennessee in his only season with the Wildcats.

Professional Career Highlights

Juzang professional career reached a milestone on April 7, 2024, when he scored a career-high 27 points for the Utah Jazz against the Golden State Warriors. Earlier that same season, he had established a then-career-high of 19 points against the Atlanta Hawks. His NBA debut came on February 28, 2023, against the San Antonio Spurs. In the 2022 NBA Summer League, he showcased his abilities before a concussion in a car crash delayed his debut.

Jonathan Anh Juzang Family

Family Background

Juzang comes from a basketball family with strong athletic connections. His father, Maxie Juzang, is of Creole descent, while his mother, Hanh Juzang, is Vietnamese. This multicultural background has been an important part of his identity throughout his life. His family environment and support system played a significant role in his decision to transfer from Kentucky back to UCLA, as he was reportedly lonely without his family during his time in Kentucky.

Personal Life

Juzang has an older brother named Christian, who played college basketball as a point guard for Harvard University. Christian continued his basketball career professionally, playing in the Vietnam Basketball Association with the Saigon Heat. Juzang also has a younger sister named Lauren. The Juzang family has shown strong support for Jonathan throughout his basketball journey, which was particularly evident when he chose to transfer closer to home during his college career.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Juzang as he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves organization. After spending three seasons with the Utah Jazz, where he had shown steady improvement and signed a four-year contract, Juzang was waived by the Jazz on June 30, 2025. He signed with the Timberwolves on August 1, 2025, initially on a non-guaranteed contract before being converted to a two-way deal that allowed him to play for both the NBA team and their G League affiliate. The move to Minnesota represented a fresh opportunity with a new organization. Juzang appeared in 21 games with the Timberwolves during the 2025-26 season, averaging 2.0 points and 0.8 rebounds in 4.2 minutes per game before being waived on February 18, 2026. Following his release, he signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League, continuing his professional basketball career overseas.