going ahead James Johnson reflected on the moment when Dwyane Wade was defended by Udonis Haslem following Johnson’s eye scratch.
Johnson, who began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls after being drafted 16th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, has had a varied career across several teams. He had two stints with the Toronto Raptors but is most noted for his time with the Miami Heat, where he played 222 regular-season games from the 2016-17 season until partway through the 2019-20 campaign. During this period, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, with his best season being the 2016-17 season. That year, he averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 blocks per game, earning him recognition in the Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player voting.
Johnson continued his career with the Indiana Pacers last season, contributing to their surprising run to the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Though he played only one game in the playoffs, he was a valuable presence in the locker room. The Pacers put up a strong fight against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, with most games being closely contested, although they were ultimately swept.
Leave a Reply