Besides what he admired in endless hours of video study of Stanley Johnson, Stan Van Gundy loved the competitive fire he exuded in their face-to-face meetings. Everybody you talk to about Johnson, his competitive streak is what makes their eyes flash.
“I’ve always had it, but it just amps up when people tell me I can’t do things,” Johnson said between another round of two-a-day practices as the Pistons prepare for their Saturday Summer League opener. “People say certain things and act certain ways, it always puts a chip on my shoulder. I think I’ll have a chip on my shoulder from now on because I’ve heard certain things about how I’m supposed to pan out in the NBA and that will always be with me for the rest of my career.