Orlando Johnson

  • Nationality: USA
  • Date of Birth: 11/03/89
  • Place of Birth: Monterey, California (USA)
  • Position: G/F
  • Height (CM): 196
  • Weight (KG): 100
  • Junior Assoc:
  • College: Loyola Marymount (2007–2008) UC Santa Barbara (2009–2012)
  • NBL DEBUT: 16/01/21
  • AGE AT DEBUT: 31
  • LAST NBL GAME: 13/03/21
  • AGE AT LAST GAME: 32
  • NBL History: Brisbane 2021
  • Championships: 0
  • None

BIO: Orlando Johnson was born in Monterey, California (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Orlando Johnson made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 31 years of age. He scored two points in his first 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 Orlando Johnson (via Russia) and Vic Law (via Lakeland) were added.

Johnson was signed as Brisbane’s first import in November after spending the previous season with Avtodor Saratov in Russia and was viewed as the replacement for Patterson. Brisbane expected Johnson to take on a major offensive role alongside Sobey, with the former NBA guard entering the season expecting to be one of the team’s primary scoring options. “I told them I was looking to be a focal point and a guy who can lead a team,” Johnson said.

Brisbane opened the season against Illawarra at Nissan Arena on January 16, where Johnson (2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) started but suffered an elbow injury midway through the second quarter and did not return. Sobey (19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Law (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) led Brisbane, while Sam Froling (19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Illawarra to a 90-84 win.

Johnson (6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 15 games) did not miss a game because of the elbow injury, returning five days later against Illawarra despite still favouring his right arm. Johnson (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals) came off the bench as Sobey (24 points and 2 steals) and Law (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Brisbane, while Tyler Harvey (31 points and 2 steals) carried Illawarra to another 90-82 win.

Johnson’s best game came against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 15, where he finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal as Brisbane reversed its loss to the 36ers two nights earlier. Law (27 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) and Sobey (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Bullets, while Daniel Johnson (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Adelaide’s best as Brisbane won 93-74.