This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Not much about Chris Johnson's game screams NBA rotation player, especially for a postseason contender such as the Utah Jazz.
He's an improving shooter, but still spotty from anywhere other than the corners. He's not a great ballhandler, and doesn't initiate in pick-and-rolls. Offensively, Johnson averages a shade over three points per game. He's not someone you're going to count on for scoring off the bench.
His skills are his hustle and defense — those are what keep him on the floor. His skill lies in his ability to chase people down in transition and block shots. Johnson plays hard. That in itself is valuable at the NBA level.
And it's endeared him to his coaches, his teammates, to the Jazz front office. With Alec Burks still a few weeks away from returning, Johnson has established himself as the first wing off Quin Snyder's bench. That's a far cry from where he was a year ago, when he had to endure two 10-day contracts with the Jazz before he was guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
"I think it's about trusting the process," Johnson said. "Personally, I just try to go out there and figure out a way to make an impact. I try to make plays, do the little things. Playing hard is something that I've been able to do all my life."
For almost two years, Johnson's played basketball for the Jazz without a day-to-day guarantee. He garnered the two 10-days, before general manager Dennis Lindsey decided to sign him for the remainder of the 2014-15 season.
He played summer league for the Jazz, and entered the current season knowing he could be cut at any point before January. Even though he's guaranteed for the remainder of this season, he still doesn't have a contract for next year.
But Johnson's life is the one that typically befalls those who aren't drafted out of college and have to make the NBA the hard way. Before last season, Johnson's résumé was littered with stints in minor league basketball, notably the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Before sticking with the Jazz, Johnson was briefly with the Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
In each of those stops, Johnson would ask himself what he had to do in order to make it. Doing the dirty work, saving possessions, playing tight defense, never taking a play off, those were some of his answers.
"As you might guess, people like Chris Johnson and [San Antonio's] Jonathan Simmons have a character that's strong enough to handle the fact that, in the beginning, nobody loved them," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "Johnson continued to improve, and continued to push. Those are two examples of guys who never stopped trying to get there. Those guys kept pushing, and spent a few years in the D-League before they found a break. It just shows that it's important to keep believing in yourself."
Johnson's opportunity as a rotation player came when Burks went down in December, and he went from there. He's not a perfect wing guy off the bench — he's never going to heat up for 15 points in 10 minutes like Burks frequently could.
But his defense has gotten him onto the floor, and has kept him there. Snyder now staggers the minutes of Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood, so that one of the two are on the floor nearly the entire game, and that's created room for a defensive specialist like Johnson to play to his strengths.
Snyder has found a way to use the 6-foot-5 Johnson as a versatile defender, putting him on everyone from point guards to small forwards. When Burks returns in a few weeks, there's a possibility that Johnson falls out of the rotation. But for two months, he's given the Jazz a real option in Burks' stead, and he's proven he can play at the NBA level. That much can't be taken from him.
"He's showing a lot this year, and he adds a lot to what we do," Jazz forward Joe Ingles said. "He's getting an opportunity and he's taking advantage of it. He plays with an ultra-high intensity level, and he puts 100 percent into everything he does. He's been great for us."
Twitter: @tjonessltrib —
About Chris Johnson
• He and Trey Burke both grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and played against each other in high school.
• Johnson was a D-League All-Star in 2014 and a former D-League All-Rookie honoree.
• As a senior in college, he led Dayton to the NIT title.
• Johnson played 40 games with the Boston Celtics in 2013-2014.
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Nets at Jazz
P Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
TV • ROOT Sports —
Nets at Jazz
P Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
TV • ROOT Sports
—
Nets at Jazz
P At Vivint Smart Home Arena
Tipoff • Saturday, 7:30 p.m. MST
TV • ROOT Sports
Radio • 1280 AM
Records • Utah 28-29; Brooklyn 16-42
Last meeting • Jazz, 108-86 (Jan. 22)
About the Nets • Brooklyn just brought out the contract of star guard Joe Johnson. … Before beating the Phoenix Suns, the Nets had been on a seven-game road losing streak. … The Nets recently hired Sean Marks away from San Antonio to be their new general manager. … Center Brook Lopez leads Brooklyn with 20.5 points per night.
About the Jazz • Utah is looking to sweep the season series between the two teams. … The Jazz begin Saturday in ninth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Houston Rockets. … Utah concludes its three-game homestand with the matchup against the Nets. … The Jazz begin a four-game eastern conference road swing on Monday.