SE: D.J. Johnson Turned a Risky Tryout into a G-League Roster Spot for the Santa Cruz Warriors
Nov 13, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
D.J. Johnson took a risk to earn a roster spot for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G-League affiliate of the NBA powerhouse Golden State Warriors. The K-State alum (2012-17) gambled on himself, and it paid off.
"I knew where I wanted to be. It was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up," he said. "I didn't want to close any doors, so I was just, like, 'Opportunity's knocking at the door. I better see what it's about.'"
That opportunity came in the form of an unexpected phone call in late July. Johnson was a few weeks away from leaving for Japan, where he was supposed to start his fourth international basketball season, when he got the call.
It was from Michael Lee, a former Kansas player and current Santa Cruz Warriors assistant coach. Lee wanted Johnson to come to a local tryout in September. Johnson, with no guarantees of where it would go, had a decision to make.
Go to Japan and continue his professional career, the safe play. Or risk it and go through this tryout.
"I ended up just talking it over with myself and was, like, 'Look, the NBA's the goal and somebody's here in front of you telling you they want you to take this step, and this is the step to get closer to it,' so I just figured I'd take advantage of it," Johnson said. "Basically, I wanted to shoot my shot in the G-League, so I came out for a tryout on September 7 in Santa Cruz."
That September trip was stressful, to say the least. Johnson did all he could to get an edge over the more than 20 players invited.
"I was definitely nervous, that's for sure. I had spoken to Kris Weems, the head coach, and Mike Lee, and just asked them, before we started up, what kind of stuff were they going to put us through during the tryout," Johnson said. "They basically said don't be too nervous, be yourself, and that helped me get through it. We ended up going through a couple plays and running open gym with teams, and then they narrowed the cut down and I was still in that last 16 from the open tryout. They ended up giving me a call back a few weeks later."
This call was to get Johnson out to training camp with four other players from the initial tryout. When training camp ended, Johnson's name was on the right side of the cut list. He was one of 12 players on the roster and the only tryout player kept.
"It's been pretty cool," Johnson said. "It was definitely a big risk I knew I was taking, but it was one I was willing to take."
A few years ago, that would not have been the case.
After five seasons at K-State, highlighted by a Big 12 Championship in 2013, Johnson tried his hand at some NFL tryouts. When they did not pan out, he went the international basketball route. Johnson played in Greece, South Korea and, most recently, in Mexico, where his team won the league.
Slowly, the urge to pursue a path to the NBA grew. His belief followed it.
"I was in South Korea last year. It got to around October, November, and I was, like, 'The competition is good here…it's decent, but I don't want to be the big fish in the little pond. I want to be with the big dogs,'" said Johnson, one of three former Wildcats in the G-League, along with his former teammates Dean Wade and Barry Brown, Jr. "And I've been just kind of building my confidence over that time, working on my skills and shooting a lot.
"After leaving Mexico and winning a championship, I was, like, '(The NBA) is where I want to be.'"
Now, Johnson is much closer to that goal.
Last weekend, he played his first pair of G-League regular games. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes in the first one. The 6-foot-9 southpaw followed it two points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a win.
"It's awesome, with everything D.J.'s been through," Wade, who's on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and had a standout opening weekend in the G-League, said of Johnson. "There's not a person who deserves it more. It's amazing. He's kept his faith and kept going and kept working every day and it's finally starting to pay off, little by little. I'm super happy for him, super excited. I wish nothing but the best for him."
Johnson said he feels much more prepared for this opportunity than he might have in the past. He said he's more offensive minded, his basketball IQ has increased significantly, and his focus is clearer than ever before.
"Coming out of college, I wasn't sure if I would be able to play at the NBA level. I wanted to try the NFL stuff and it didn't work out," he said. "It's just clearer to me now, what I want to do and my end goal."
His game, Johnson said, should only be helped by the competition he will play against and the coaches he will play for this season.
"Having that guidance from NBA vets and staff members telling you, 'Look, this is what you need to do to kind of climb that ladder to get to the next level,' I think that's most exciting," he said. "I know I'm going to learn so much and gain a lot from being here to, potentially, get me to where I want to be."
D.J. Johnson took a risk to earn a roster spot for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G-League affiliate of the NBA powerhouse Golden State Warriors. The K-State alum (2012-17) gambled on himself, and it paid off.
"I knew where I wanted to be. It was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up," he said. "I didn't want to close any doors, so I was just, like, 'Opportunity's knocking at the door. I better see what it's about.'"
That opportunity came in the form of an unexpected phone call in late July. Johnson was a few weeks away from leaving for Japan, where he was supposed to start his fourth international basketball season, when he got the call.
It was from Michael Lee, a former Kansas player and current Santa Cruz Warriors assistant coach. Lee wanted Johnson to come to a local tryout in September. Johnson, with no guarantees of where it would go, had a decision to make.
Go to Japan and continue his professional career, the safe play. Or risk it and go through this tryout.
"I ended up just talking it over with myself and was, like, 'Look, the NBA's the goal and somebody's here in front of you telling you they want you to take this step, and this is the step to get closer to it,' so I just figured I'd take advantage of it," Johnson said. "Basically, I wanted to shoot my shot in the G-League, so I came out for a tryout on September 7 in Santa Cruz."
That September trip was stressful, to say the least. Johnson did all he could to get an edge over the more than 20 players invited.
"I was definitely nervous, that's for sure. I had spoken to Kris Weems, the head coach, and Mike Lee, and just asked them, before we started up, what kind of stuff were they going to put us through during the tryout," Johnson said. "They basically said don't be too nervous, be yourself, and that helped me get through it. We ended up going through a couple plays and running open gym with teams, and then they narrowed the cut down and I was still in that last 16 from the open tryout. They ended up giving me a call back a few weeks later."
This call was to get Johnson out to training camp with four other players from the initial tryout. When training camp ended, Johnson's name was on the right side of the cut list. He was one of 12 players on the roster and the only tryout player kept.
"It's been pretty cool," Johnson said. "It was definitely a big risk I knew I was taking, but it was one I was willing to take."
A few years ago, that would not have been the case.
After five seasons at K-State, highlighted by a Big 12 Championship in 2013, Johnson tried his hand at some NFL tryouts. When they did not pan out, he went the international basketball route. Johnson played in Greece, South Korea and, most recently, in Mexico, where his team won the league.
Slowly, the urge to pursue a path to the NBA grew. His belief followed it.
"I was in South Korea last year. It got to around October, November, and I was, like, 'The competition is good here…it's decent, but I don't want to be the big fish in the little pond. I want to be with the big dogs,'" said Johnson, one of three former Wildcats in the G-League, along with his former teammates Dean Wade and Barry Brown, Jr. "And I've been just kind of building my confidence over that time, working on my skills and shooting a lot.
"After leaving Mexico and winning a championship, I was, like, '(The NBA) is where I want to be.'"
Now, Johnson is much closer to that goal.
Last weekend, he played his first pair of G-League regular games. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes in the first one. The 6-foot-9 southpaw followed it two points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a win.
"It's awesome, with everything D.J.'s been through," Wade, who's on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and had a standout opening weekend in the G-League, said of Johnson. "There's not a person who deserves it more. It's amazing. He's kept his faith and kept going and kept working every day and it's finally starting to pay off, little by little. I'm super happy for him, super excited. I wish nothing but the best for him."
Johnson said he feels much more prepared for this opportunity than he might have in the past. He said he's more offensive minded, his basketball IQ has increased significantly, and his focus is clearer than ever before.
"Coming out of college, I wasn't sure if I would be able to play at the NBA level. I wanted to try the NFL stuff and it didn't work out," he said. "It's just clearer to me now, what I want to do and my end goal."
His game, Johnson said, should only be helped by the competition he will play against and the coaches he will play for this season.
"Having that guidance from NBA vets and staff members telling you, 'Look, this is what you need to do to kind of climb that ladder to get to the next level,' I think that's most exciting," he said. "I know I'm going to learn so much and gain a lot from being here to, potentially, get me to where I want to be."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
K-State Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference at Colorado
Thursday, February 26
K-State Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference at Texas Tech
Sunday, February 22
K-State Men's Basketball | Haggerty and Johnson Historic Night vs Baylor
Thursday, February 19
K-State Men's Basketball | Interim Head Coach Driscoll Press Conference vs Baylor
Wednesday, February 18
