Kody Stattmann
July 31, 2022
BJ Johnson
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 21/12/95
- Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Syracuse (2013–2015) La Salle (2016–2018)
- NBL DEBUT: 17/01/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 8/06/21
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 25
- NBL History: Brisbane 2021
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: BJ Johnson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) and and attended Lower Merion High School. There, he had 22 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Chester High School in the 2013 state championship.
FAMILY: Johnson is the son of Robert Johnson, who played basketball at La Salle University from 1986 to 1990
NBL EXPERIENCE
BJ Johnson made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 25 years of age. He scored one point in his first NBL game.
After finishing fifth with a 15-13 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, Brisbane reshaped its roster under coach Andrej Lemanis. Cam Gliddon (to South East Melbourne), Lamar Patterson (to New Zealand), Reuben Te Rangi (to South East Melbourne), Will Magnay (to New Orleans), Mika Vukona (to Southern Districts), Taylor Braun (to Israel) and EJ Singler (to NZNBL) departed, while Anthony Drmic and Harry Froling (both via Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (via St Mary’s), Tamuri Wigness (via Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence) and imports Vic Law (via Lakeland) and Orlando Johnson (via Russia) were added.
Brisbane showed flashes of being one of the league’s better teams but struggled to maintain consistency. Orlando Johnson (6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 15 games) was released in March and Patterson (13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 23 games) returned (via New Zealand) while recovering from an MCL injury. Law (18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 16 games) then suffered an ankle injury following Brisbane’s March 20 win over New Zealand, with further testing revealing a torn tendon which required surgery and ended his season. Brisbane was 9-7 when Law made his final appearance but went 1-5 over its next six games to fall to 10-12 before signing BJ Johnson (via Long Island) for the remainder of the season on April 19.
Johnson (10 points and 3.7 rebounds across 11 games) joined Brisbane after averaging 18.4 points and 5.6 rebounds with the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League. Mandatory two-week hotel quarantine meant he was unavailable for Brisbane’s next three games before joining the team in early May. “Due to quarantine we won’t see BJ play until May but we look forward to adding him to the group,” General Manager Sam Mackinnon said. Johnson did not miss a game because of injury, appearing in every one of Brisbane’s remaining 11 games after making his debut.
Johnson’s first NBL game came against Cairns on May 8, only days after leaving quarantine. Johnson (1 point, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist) played 13 minutes and missed all eight of his field goal attempts as he worked his way back into game condition, while Sobey (25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Cadee (21 points) led Brisbane, and Nathan Jawai (20 points and 5 rebounds) led Cairns as the Bullets won 96-87 and improved to 12-14.
Johnson quickly found his rhythm and moved into the starting lineup later in May, but Brisbane’s lowest point came against South East Melbourne on May 22. Johnson (4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist) played 17 minutes as Drmic (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Patterson (11 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) were Brisbane’s only double-figure scorers, while Yannick Wetzell (18 points and 9 rebounds) led the Phoenix to a 95-66 win, Brisbane’s lowest score of the season.
Johnson’s best game came against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on June 5, where he finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Johnson threw down a dunk to put Brisbane ahead 80-79 inside the final two minutes and had another opportunity to win the game at the buzzer, but his difficult baseline attempt missed. Sobey (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Patterson (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) also contributed, while Jarell Martin (28 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Sydney to an 83-82 win.
Brisbane went 7-4 after Johnson entered the lineup, with Sobey (21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 36 games) producing the best season of his career. Drmic (10.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 34 games), Hodgson (10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 32 games), Cadee (9.5 points and 4 assists across 36 games), Froling (8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 36 games) and Harrison (5.2 points and 5.9 rebounds across 36 games) were Brisbane’s other major contributors. The Bullets finished third in offensive rebounding and second in defensive rebounds but conceded a league-high 90.9 points per game while scoring 89 per game.
Sobey was named to the All-NBL First Team and won Brisbane’s Leroy Loggins MVP and Members MVP awards, Cadee received the Players Player Award, Hodgson was named Defensive Player of the Year and Wigness (2.9 points across 27 games) received the Young Player of the Year award. Lemanis also announced he would leave Brisbane after five seasons as head coach.
Brisbane had missed the playoffs by the time it closed the season against South East Melbourne at Nissan Arena on June 8, where Johnson (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 blocks) produced his best defensive performance of the season, Patterson (19 points and 3 assists) and Sobey (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Brisbane, while Mitchell Creek (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was the Phoenix’s best as the Bullets won 94-84 and finished sixth with an 18-18 record.
BJ Johnson played one season in the NBL. He averaged 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 11 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 25 | Brisbane | 18-18 (6) | 11 | 236.7 | 110 | 41 | 10 | 10 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 40 | 88 | 45% | 5 | 24 | 21% | 25 | 28 | 89% | 54% | 48% | 17 | Totals | 11 | 237 | 110 | 41 | 10 | 10 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 40 | 88 | 45.5% | 5 | 24 | 20.8% | 25 | 28 | 89.3% | 55% | 48% | 17 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 25 | Brisbane | 18-18 (6) | 11 | 21.5 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 8.0 | 45% | 0.5 | 2.2 | 21% | 2.3 | 2.5 | 89% | 54% | 48% | 17 | Total | 11 | 21.5 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 8.0 | 45.5% | 0.0 | 20.8% | 0.5 | 2.2 | 89.3% | 55% | 48% | 17 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Johnson signed with the Orlando Magic. He was waived by the Magic on October 10 but would play for their G League affiliate the Lakeland Magic.
On March 1, 2019, Johnson signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson made his NBA debut two days later, putting up 11 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting (3-of-3 three-point shooting), 2 rebounds, and a steal during 19 minutes of action in a 123–118 win over the Chicago Bulls. On March 12, Johnson signed a second 10-day contract. After the expiration of his second 10-day contract, Johnson returned to the Lakeland Magic.
On April 2, 2019, Johnson signed a rest-of-season contract with the Sacramento Kings. On July 19, 2019, Johnson was waived by the Kings.
In September 2019, Johnson re-signed with the Orlando Magic for training camp, but was waived on October 19. In November, the Magic signed him to a two-way contract. He averaged 22.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game for Lakeland. Johnson was named to the All-NBA G League Second Team.
In December 2020, Johnson signed with the Miami Heat but was waived only weeks later and then joined the Long Island Nets in the G-League. In 14 games, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 31.1 minutes per game as well as shooting 41.1% from the field and 84.3% from the free throw line.
After half a season in Australia, Johnson signed with the Orlando Magic, only to be sent down to their affiliate team, the Lakeland Magic. There he 10 games and averaged 24.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.5 minutes per game.
On December 17, 2021, Johnson was signed to a 10-day contract by the Orlando Magic, where appeared in four games and averaged 6.5 points in 16 minutes per game, the best numbers of his NBA career.
He was not offered a spot on the teams full roster after his 10-day contract and returned to the Lakeland Magic for the remainder of the season.
Johnson played 21 games in the NBA. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- September 5, 2018: Signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic.
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October 10, 2018: Waived by the Orlando Magic.
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March 1, 2019: Signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
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March 11, 2019: Signed a 2nd 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
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April 1, 2019: Signed a contract for the rest of the season with the Sacramento Kings
April 2, 2019: Assigned to the Lakeland Magic of the G-League.
-
April 3, 2019: Recalled from the Lakeland Magic of the G-League.
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July 19, 2019: Waived by the Sacramento Kings.
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September 27, 2019: Signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic.
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October 19, 2019: Waived by the Orlando Magic.
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November 4, 2019: Signed a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic
December 4, 2020: Signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat.
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December 19, 2020: Waived by the Miami Heat.
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October 15, 2021: Signed a contract with the Orlando Magic.
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October 16, 2021: Waived by the Orlando Magic.
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December 17, 2021: Signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic.
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| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 67% | 53% | 60% | 80% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||||||
| Total | 40 | 88 | 45.5% | 5 | 24 | 20.8% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 26 | Orlando | SF | 4 | 0 | 65 | 26 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 44% | 4 | 10 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 52% | 52% |
| 2019-20 | 26 | Orlando | SF | 10 | 0 | 83 | 30 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 32 | 28% | 3 | 9 | 33% | 9 | 10 | 90% | 41% | 33% |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Atlanta | SF | 6 | 0 | 43 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 50% | 3 | 6 | 50% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 62% | 59% |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Sacramento | SF | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 50% | 50% | Total | 21 | 0 | 197 | 79 | 38 | 3 | 11 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 29 | 75 | 39% | 10 | 26 | 38% | 11 | 12 | 92% |
NBA PER GAME 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 26 | Orlando | SF | 4 | 0 | 16.3 | 6.5 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 6.3 | 44% | 1.0 | 2.5 | 40% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 52% | 52% |
| 2019-20 | 26 | Orlando | SF | 10 | 0 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 28% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 33% | 0.9 | 1.0 | 90% | 41% | 33% |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Atlanta | SF | 6 | 0 | 7.2 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 50% | 0.5 | 1.0 | 50% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100% | 62% | 59% |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Sacramento | SF | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 50% | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 50% | 50% | Total | 21 | 0 | 9.4 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 39% | 0.5 | 1.2 | 38% | 0.5 | 0.6 | 92% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Spain - Real Betis (2022–2023) | Russia - Parma (2023–2024), Lokomotiv Kuban (2024–2025)
Johnson joined Real Betis for the 2022–23 Liga ACB season in Spain, playing his first season in Spain, and he averaged 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 9.6 valuation across 39 games after signing with the club in April 2022.
Spain - Real Betis (2022–2023) and Johnson helped Real Betis avoid relegation from Liga ACB in 2022–23.
Johnson joined Parma for the 2023–24 VTB United League season in Russia, and he averaged 18.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 steals across 38 games after signing in August 2023.
Russia - Parma (2023-2024) and Johnson finished fourth in the VTB United League in scoring at 18.5 points per game and fourth in steals at 1.7 per game in 2023–24.
Johnson joined Lokomotiv Kuban for the 2024–25 VTB United League season in Russia, and he signed with the club in June 2024 after his season with Parma.
COLLEGE
B.J. Johnson began his NCAA career at Syracuse, arriving from Lower Merion High School and appearing as a freshman in the 2013–14 season in 10 games, where he averaged 1.4 points in 5.5 minutes per contest while getting his first exposure to high-major rotation minutes in the ACC.
He took on a larger role as a sophomore in 2014–15, playing 25 games with four starts and averaging 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds, and he opened that season with a Syracuse career-high 19 points and nine rebounds against Kennesaw State while also logging notable starts and extended minutes in the frontcourt as the year progressed.
Following the 2014–15 season, Johnson elected to transfer, leaving Syracuse in March 2015 and later explaining that La Salle coach John Giannini pitched him on becoming an impact player after sitting out the required transfer season, which set up his return to Philadelphia and a fresh start in the Atlantic 10.
After sitting out 2015–16, Johnson debuted for La Salle in 2016–17 and immediately became the Explorers’ go-to scorer and rebounder, starting 28 of 29 games, leading the team in both categories at 17.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and earning First Team All-Philadelphia Big 5 recognition while also collecting Second Team NABC All-District honours and two Atlantic 10 Player of the Week awards as his breakout year took off.
That 2016–17 season featured several defining performances, headlined by a career-high 35 points in the 84–80 win over Florida Gulf Coast on December 17 where he went 10-for-16 from the field and 12-for-14 at the line, and he also produced a triple-overtime grinder at Mercer by playing a career-high 52 minutes and finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds as La Salle survived in extras.
Johnson tested the NBA waters after his 2016–17 surge by declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft before ultimately withdrawing and returning to La Salle, where he elevated again as a senior in 2017–18 by averaging 20.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, earning All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honours, adding Atlantic 10 All-Academic recognition, and securing another All-Philadelphia Big 5 First Team selection while producing one of the most prolific scoring seasons by an Explorer since Rasual Butler in 2002.
By the time his college career closed, Johnson had built a clear two-phase NCAA story: a developmental start at Syracuse, then a high-volume, award-winning rise at La Salle that included conference and city honours, multiple 20-point performances, and signature big-game moments that defined both his junior breakout and senior peak seasons.
Related
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