There’s little glory in being a lifelong role player in pro sports, and James Johnson knows that. Now coming off the bench for the Miami Heat, Johnson, 29, is enjoying the ride that his fifth pro team is giving him. There’s a need for big, athletic, tough defenders in the NBA and it’s one that Johnson happily fills. But Johnson also played a role in building a superstar.
As DeMar DeRozan has risen to a two-time all-star, a gold medal-winner with the U.S. men’s Olympic team and started this season leading the league in scoring at 36.3 points per game after Thursday’s games, he credited Johnson, his friend and former teammate, for helping him get there.