Luca Yates
July 9, 2023
AJ Johnson
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 1/12/04
- Place of Birth: Fresno, California (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 76
- Junior Assoc:
- College:
- NBL DEBUT: 30/09/23
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 28/02/24
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 19
- NBL History: Illawarra 2024
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: AJ Johnson was born in Fresno, California (USA) and attended Southern California Academy of Sciences.
A quick and shifty combo guard with a long, wiry frame. He is a strong shot creator with effortless bounce, who drew comparisons to NBA players Jalen Green and LaMelo Ball during high school.
NBL EXPERIENCE
AJ Johnson made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
AJ Johnson joined the Illawarra Hawks for NBL24 under the NBL’s Next Stars Program, bringing significant attention as a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Alongside Johnson, Illawarra added Mason Peatling, Biwali Bayles, and Lachlan Olbrich to a refreshed roster that aimed to rebound from their worst-ever record (3-25) the previous season. The team also signed Korean shooter Hyunjung Lee under the NBL’s Asian Player Rule and acquired Todd Blanchfield from Perth in a buyout deal. Returning players included captain Sam Froling, Tyler Harvey, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, while imports Justin Robinson and Gary Clark completed the core group.
Illawarra’s pre-season was promising, but early struggles emerged once the regular season began. Injuries to key players like Lee and Peatling hindered the Hawks’ ability to gain momentum. By October, the Hawks held a 2-4 record with wins over South East Melbourne and Cairns. However, heavy defeats to Sydney and Cairns the following month led to the departure of head coach Jacob Jackomas. Assistant Justin Tatum stepped in as interim coach and orchestrated a turnaround, leading Illawarra to four wins in their next six games.
Despite losing Daniel Grida to a knee injury, the Hawks continued their resurgence under Tatum. Will Hickey emerged as a solid contributor, and the addition of Kyle Adnam as an injury replacement bolstered their depth. Illawarra significantly improved their offensive output, averaging 91.6 points per game, up from last season’s league-worst 80.8 points. This surge helped the Hawks finish fourth in the regular season with a 14-14 record, earning them a spot in the play-in tournament.
In the play-in tournament, Illawarra suffered a 92-76 loss to Tasmania but rebounded with a thrilling 88-85 win over New Zealand, securing a semi-final berth against Melbourne. In game one of the semi-finals, Illawarra led early but fell in overtime to United, 115-106. The Hawks bounced back in game two, narrowly defeating Melbourne to force a deciding game. However, their dream run ended in game three with a six-point loss, falling short of a Grand Final appearance.
Gary Clark delivered several standout performances, including a season-high 38 points against Cairns. His consistent contributions earned him the Hawks’ Club MVP award and a selection to the All-NBL First Team. Johnson, meanwhile, showcased his athleticism and potential, drawing attention from NBA scouts. At the time of signing, Johnson was projected as the 13th pick in ESPN’s 2024 NBA Draft rankings, adding significant intrigue to his debut NBL season.
AJ can fly
@Bucks first-round draft pick AJ Johnson made some incredible plays in NBL24
Enjoy his best plays
pic.twitter.com/u4fykqjCqQ
— NBL (@NBL) July 7, 2024
𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓
The @illawarrahawks have added projected 2024 NBA lottery pick AJ Johnson as a Next Star for #NBL24
pic.twitter.com/0NOopIoqB2
— NBL (@NBL) April 13, 2023
AJ Johnson played one season in the NBL. He averaged 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 26 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Where will the high-flying Hawk land?
AJ Johnson is predicted by many to be selected in the first round of next week’s @NBA Draft
Check out his official mixtape
pic.twitter.com/5UhCqqKfDX
— NBL (@NBL) June 17, 2024
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 19 | Illawarra | 14-14 (4) | 26 | 201.0 | 74 | 33 | 18 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 29 | 79 | 37% | 9 | 30 | 30% | 7 | 13 | 54% | 43% | 42% | 11 |
| Totals | 26 | 201 | 74 | 33 | 18 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 29 | 79 | 36.7% | 9 | 30 | 30.0% | 7 | 13 | 53.8% | 44% | 42% | 11 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 19 | Illawarra | 14-14 (4) | 26 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 37% | 0.3 | 1.2 | 30% | 0.3 | 0.5 | 54% | 43% | 42% | 11 |
| Total | 26 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 36.7% | 0.0 | 30.0% | 0.3 | 1.2 | 53.8% | 44% | 42% | 11 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 34% | 47% | 38% | 52% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 29 | 79 | 36.7% | 9 | 30 | 30.0% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 19 | Illawarra | 14-14 (4) | 26 | 201.0 | 74 | 33 | 18 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 29 | 79 | 37% | 9 | 30 | 30% | 7 | 13 | 54% | 43% | 42% | 11 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
COLLEGE
Johnson, had originally committed to join Texas and coach Rodney Terry, but he changed course to pursue the professional pathway via the Illawarra Hawks and the NBL.
Related
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