Daniel Johnson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Johnson is an Australian professional basketball
player currently playing for the Adelaide 36ers
in the National Basketball League. Standing 6'11½" (212 cm) tall and weighing 108 kg (238 lb), DJ's position is centre
although he is equally effective at playing power forward
.
helping The Emus to 5th place overall with an 8-1 tournament record averaging 3.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
where he usually the teams starting centre. He played 21 games and averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game for the Waves
.
as their 'Young Australian Player' for the 2008-09 NBL season
. Making his debut for the club in 2009, he played 48 games over two seasons for the Tigers as backup centre behind team captain and Australian Boomers
star Chris Anstey
. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game in limited court time with the Tigers and missed out on an NBL championship in 2008-09 when the Tigers went down three games to two in the grand finals series against cross-town rivals the South Dragons
.
to be the teams backup centre. Johnson played all 28 games for the 36ers in the 2010–11 NBL season
and averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots per game in 19.3 minutes played per game (NBL games are scheduled for 4x10 minute periods + overtime if needed), an increase on his career totals to date. In Adelaide's last home game of the 2010-11 season on March 18, an ankle injury to team captain and starting centre Adam Ballinger
forced Johnson to play over 37 minutes of the game, more than double his average court time, against his former club Melbourne where he put up a career best 31 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals in what was his first real dominant performance in the NBL.
In the first 25 games of the 36ers 2010-11 season Johnson had no starts and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game. Due to Ballinger's injury in the third to last game Johnson started in two of the last three games of the season and averaged 23.3 points, 12 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game in 37.4 minutes court time over the last three games. He finished runner-up in the 36ers club MVP voting for the season behind captain Adam Ballinger.
Daniel Johnson has played 76 NBL games averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocked shots per game.
In 2011-12 NBL pre-season games played in Tasmania
in September 2011, the 36ers played the Illawarra Hawks in two games. Despite Adelaide losing both games (84-100 and 81-83) Johnson impressed starting at centre scoring 37 points in game 1 and 24 in game 2. He is widely tipped to be the 36ers starting centre in the 2011–12 NBL season
.
After a slow start to the 2011-12 season with three straight losses, both DJ and Adelaide came good in Round 4 with a 100-92 win over the Perth Wildcats
. Johnson top scored with 22 pts at 75% shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds and had 1 block and 1 steal in 31 minutes. For his effort in leading the previously winless 36ers to victory over the previously unbeated Wildcats, DJ was named the NBL Player of the week, the first 36er to win the award since Adam Ballinger in December 2009.
After starting the first 8 games of the 2011-12 season for Adelaide, Johnson is currently averaging 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, almost double his career NBL stats to date showing his improvement as a player and currently has him among the early favourites for the NBL's Most Improved Player
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player currently playing for the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
in the National Basketball League. Standing 6'11½" (212 cm) tall and weighing 108 kg (238 lb), DJ's position is centre
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
although he is equally effective at playing power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
.
Junior career
Daniel Johnson represented Australia at the 2007 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
helping The Emus to 5th place overall with an 8-1 tournament record averaging 3.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
College
In 2007-08, Johnson had a short USA College stint with Pepperdine UniversityPepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
where he usually the teams starting centre. He played 21 games and averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game for the Waves
Pepperdine Waves
Pepperdine Waves is the name given to the sports teams of the Pepperdine University.-See also:* Pepperdine Waves alumni* 2011-12 Pepperdine Waves men's basketball team...
.
Melbourne Tigers
Johnson returned to Australia in 2008 and signed with NBL club the Melbourne TigersMelbourne Tigers
The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
as their 'Young Australian Player' for the 2008-09 NBL season
2008-09 NBL Season
-2008-09 league participants:* On 30 June 2008 the Brisbane Bullets confirmed they would be handing back the team's license to the NBL. The NBL confirmed there will be no Brisbane team participating in the 2008/09 season....
. Making his debut for the club in 2009, he played 48 games over two seasons for the Tigers as backup centre behind team captain and Australian Boomers
Australia national basketball team
The Australian national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known in Australia as the Boomers, an Australian slang term for Kangaroo. Australia is ranked 9th in the world and finished 7th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic...
star Chris Anstey
Chris Anstey
Christopher John Anstey is a former Australian professional basketball player. At 7'0" his career included stints in the NBA, Russia and Spain. Anstey was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He played for the Melbourne Tigers in the Australian NBL...
. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game in limited court time with the Tigers and missed out on an NBL championship in 2008-09 when the Tigers went down three games to two in the grand finals series against cross-town rivals the South Dragons
South Dragons
The South Dragons is a former team in the Australasian National Basketball League . They made their début in the 2006/07 season and played their final season in 2008/09...
.
Adelaide 36ers
Following the 2009-10 season which saw the Tigers fall to 6th place on the ladder and miss the playoffs, the out of contract Johnson was recruited to the Adelaide 36ers by their new coach Marty ClarkeMarty Clarke (basketball)
Martin 'Marty' Clarke is an Australian former basketball player and the current head coach of the National Basketball League's Adelaide 36ers....
to be the teams backup centre. Johnson played all 28 games for the 36ers in the 2010–11 NBL season
2010–11 NBL season
The 2010–11 National Basketball League is the thirty-third season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 9 teams will contest the league. The regular season will be played between October 2010 and April 2011, followed by a post-season involving the top four. The schedule was...
and averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots per game in 19.3 minutes played per game (NBL games are scheduled for 4x10 minute periods + overtime if needed), an increase on his career totals to date. In Adelaide's last home game of the 2010-11 season on March 18, an ankle injury to team captain and starting centre Adam Ballinger
Adam Ballinger
Adam Ballinger is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States...
forced Johnson to play over 37 minutes of the game, more than double his average court time, against his former club Melbourne where he put up a career best 31 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals in what was his first real dominant performance in the NBL.
In the first 25 games of the 36ers 2010-11 season Johnson had no starts and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game. Due to Ballinger's injury in the third to last game Johnson started in two of the last three games of the season and averaged 23.3 points, 12 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game in 37.4 minutes court time over the last three games. He finished runner-up in the 36ers club MVP voting for the season behind captain Adam Ballinger.
Daniel Johnson has played 76 NBL games averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocked shots per game.
In 2011-12 NBL pre-season games played in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in September 2011, the 36ers played the Illawarra Hawks in two games. Despite Adelaide losing both games (84-100 and 81-83) Johnson impressed starting at centre scoring 37 points in game 1 and 24 in game 2. He is widely tipped to be the 36ers starting centre in the 2011–12 NBL season
2011–12 NBL season
The 2011–12 National Basketball League is the thirty-fourth season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 9 teams will contest the league. The regular season will be played between October 2011 and March 2012, followed by a post-season involving the top four in April 2012. The...
.
After a slow start to the 2011-12 season with three straight losses, both DJ and Adelaide came good in Round 4 with a 100-92 win over the Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
. Johnson top scored with 22 pts at 75% shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds and had 1 block and 1 steal in 31 minutes. For his effort in leading the previously winless 36ers to victory over the previously unbeated Wildcats, DJ was named the NBL Player of the week, the first 36er to win the award since Adam Ballinger in December 2009.
After starting the first 8 games of the 2011-12 season for Adelaide, Johnson is currently averaging 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, almost double his career NBL stats to date showing his improvement as a player and currently has him among the early favourites for the NBL's Most Improved Player
NBL (Australia) Most Improved Player
* 1988 Darren Lucas * 1989 Mark Bradtke * 1990 Shane Heal * 1991 Andrew Parkinson * 1992 Andrew Svaldenis * 1993 Scott Ninnis...
.