I remember the first time I saw Ivan Johnson. He was one of several nondescript hopefuls in Hawks camp for the summer of 2011, except that he wasn’t so ordinary with his diamond-encrusted grill, diamond-cut physique and menacing scowl.
There was a joke among Hawks staffers about who would be the one to deliver the news to Johnson if he were released. Well, it was a half-joke because there was some fear of what Johnson might do if angered.
Surprisingly, no one with the Hawks ever had to tell Johnson he was released because he made the team over draft pick Keith Benson. Even more surprising: Johnson was a bona fide NBA player because of his rebounding, defense, toughness, speed and relentless hustle.
Johnson played in China last season but recently signed a make-good contract with the Mavericks. It's good to see Johnson get another shot because appearances and on-court anger issues notwithstanding, Johnson was a cool guy (if not a verbose interview) in my dealings with him. Plus, he really is a legit NBA player (though I think football might have been a better career choice given his aggression).
Johnson's temper is a big reason why he didn't make it to the NBA until he was 27-years old. He infamously was banned from the Korean Basketball League for a series of incidents, the final straw coming when he made obscene gestures at a ref. He admits to once punching a hole in a gym wall and spitting on fans. During the recent summer league Johnson was ejected from a game for cursing at a ref (and wonderfully explained in an interview that his mentality on the court is to "(bleep) anybody that's in front of me."
Johnson had a few minor flare-ups with the Hawks. Coach Larry Drew sent Johnson home from a road trip once when Johnson wasn't down with the typical rookie custom of giving up his seat to a vet on the bench. Johnson wasn't very fond of Celtics fans who heckled him (from the safety of the stands) after a playoff game, so he gave them the finger.
But Johnson never made any real trouble with the Hawks. I think it speaks volumes that when Danny Ferry became Hawks GM he re-signed Johnson, a signal that he believed Johnson could fit in Ferry’s buttoned-down culture.
Johnson’s appearance and playing style made him a folk hero among Hawks fans. I knew the love for Johnson had reached goofy levels when one blog commenter, angry with Johnson’s limited minutes, suggested Johnson would command the $5 million per-year mid-level exception on the free-agent market.
No, Johnson wasn't worth that kind of money—he says he went to China to get more cash because NBA teams were offering him the minimum. But it's easy to see why some Hawks fans were irrational in their assessment of Johnson's value. The guy was fun to watch play basketball and as a rookie he gave the Hawks a blue-collar element they were lacking.
Johnson will do the same for the Mavericks, assuming he makes the team. And if the Mavs decide to cut him, their staffers shouldn't fear telling Johnson the bad news.
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