NBL Legends Laud Stellar Johnson Career

When you think of Daniel Johnson you think consistency. You think strong rebounding. You think stretch five. You think the ‘fastest slow man in the league’, and of course you think of the Adelaide 36ers.

‘DJ’ has become synonymous with the 36ers organisation. It’s not too much of a stretch to say he’s been the greatest playing servant to the club since the glory days of the early 2000’s. His contributions to the club sit comfortably alongside the likes of Brett Maher or Mark Davis.

It feels like 'DJ' has been around forever just hitting leaners and grabbing boards. And, to be fair, in athletic terms he has been around forever - he started his playing career almost a decade-and-a-half ago in Melbourne.

When Johnson walked through the doors at the Melbourne Tigers as a fresh-faced 18-year-old back in 2008 NBL legend Chris Anstey was still dominating the league. In fact, Johnson joined a championship winning roster on which Anstey had just won his second trifecta – earning championship, Grand Final MVP and league MVP honours as a 33-year-old in the process.

Daniel Johnson started his playing career at the Melbourne Tigers in the 2008-2009 NBL season.

“He was just a kid,” Anstey reflected his first experiences with Johnson.

“I remember he was quiet and he was unconventional.

“Looking at where he is now I can only assume his work ethic has been fantastic. Like a lot of bigs when they walk into the league he wasn’t a ready made product so he had to put in the work.”

That unconventional style Anstey is alluding to has since become a near non-negotiable in the game. The ability to shoot the three ball.

Throughout his time in the NBL and NBA Anstey came up against some of the most dominant traditional bigs in the game. Guys like Shaquille O’Neal, Rosell Ellis, and Luke Schenscher, but the game has changed since then. Johnson has led the way for a new generation of shooting big men in the league - a group that's headlined by import talents Jarrell Brantley and Brady Manek, and local stars Xavier Cooks and Keanu Pinder.

“Everyone knows the way he (Johnson) plays,” Anstey said.

“It was a little bit different - he wasn’t a big that probably sought contact. He liked shooting off balance shots.

"He was unique, and there was toughness in that uniqueness, and he was certainly unique in the way he approached the game.”

Johnson's professional journey hasn't run the same narrative as most other high-quality NBL talls. History has shown that if you're a big who can dominate in the NBL - much like in the fashion Johnson has - NBA and Boomers offers inevitably come knocking at the door.

In recent years you only need to look at opportunities afforded to Isaac Humphries, Mitch Creek and Jock Landale. Before that Nathan Jawai and David Andersen, and if you want to go even further back - Anstey himself.

Johnson, though, has been an ever-present in our league. While a championship has eluded him his remarkable 399-game (and counting) career has been a massive success. His resume includes three All-NBL First Team selections (2014, 2017, 2018), three All-NBL Second Team selections (2013, 2016, 2019), and a Most Improved Player award (2012).

Johnson poses with his Most Improved Player award in 2012.

Fans have often taken Johnson’s greatness for granted. But those at the top know exactly how good the veteran centre has been over the years.

“He’s played 400 games. I don’t think he’s underrated," Anstey said.

Two-time NBL champion and 16-year player Adam Gibson agreed with Anstey’s sentiments on NBL Today.

“If [the 36ers] don’t retire his singlet once he’s done in Adelaide it’ll be a disservice to him. The career he’s had … he’s one of the best offensive scorers from anywhere on the floor that you’ll see from a big guy," Gibson said.

“He’s got to be all-time. He was so unfortunate that his prime-time years he didn’t make the Boomers teams because there were so many other good bigs around him.

“His career has been phenomenal and in my books he’s one of the all-time bigs who’s played here in Australia."

Johnson will play his 400th NBL game on Friday night against the Perth Wildcats at 7:30pm AEDT.