While not surprising, it’s kind of unfortunate that the NBA Developmental League is shortened to “D-League” by just about everyone…makes it sound like it's for players who are perilously close to flunking out. Come to think of it, for most D-Leaguer dream-chasers, there's probably more truth to that than they'd care to admit. As for forward James Johnson however, now playing for the Iowa Energy, he expects to return soon to where he believes he belongs…in the NBA playing for the Central Division Leading Chicago Bulls.
Johnson, a Bulls’ first-round draft pick in 2009 (16th overall) certainly isn’t the only NBA first-rounder to be “sent down." The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Martell Webster (6th overall pick in 2005), Indiana Pacers’ Dahntay Jones (20th overall in 2003), New Jersey Nets’ Jordan Farmar (26th overall in 2006) and the Houston Rockets’ Aaron Brooks (26th overall in 2007) are just a few D-League alums who made it back to "The League." Still, even knowing that the assignment is only temporary, it has to be a somewhat humbling and eye-opening experience.
When we think of professional basketball players, we often think of young millionaires with palatial homes, garages full of six-figure cars and entourages of old pals who are paid to remind the player of how truly wonderful he is…in the unlikely event he should forget.
Well, the D-League is men’s professional basketball, but it is truly a whole different ballgame.
Salaries in the D-League range between $12,000 and $24,000 per season with most players at the low end of this. Since the D-League season is 50 games, this works out to $24.00 to $48.00 per game. Although the teams pay for their players' rent and utilities, most D-Leaguers share apartments in order to better pool their meager resources. While their NBA counterparts travel first-class to play before large crowds in big-city arenas, D-Leaguers travel as economically as possible to play in gyms against the likes of the Maine Red Claws, Sioux Falls Skyforce and Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Of course Johnson is still paid his NBA salary ($1.7 million this season) while playing in Des Moines. That kind of money can go pretty far in Des Moines and I imagine that he’s pretty popular with his Energy teammates.
Unlike most NBA players who are sent to play in the D-League, Johnson asked for the demotion. After a disappointing rookie season in which he averaged only 4 points and 2 rebounds in 11+ minutes per game, Johnson made a concerted effort to turn things around this year. He stepped up his offseason conditioning program, dropped about 20 pounds and was determined to crack the Bulls rotation. However, playing behind Luol Deng (5th in the NBA in minutes per game) and record-setting sharpshooter Kyle Korver who was acquired in the offseason, Johnson pretty much had the deck stacked against him.
Still, Johnson has had his moments this season including playing a key role in comeback wins against the Detroit Pistons (8 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 18+ minutes) and the Phoenix Suns (12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 22+ minutes). In the end though, the minutes just weren’t there for Johnson and as a developing player, what he needed most was game action.
"He wanted to do it," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "It's not a punishment. It's an opportunity for him to get playing time and develop." This thought was echoed by Bulls’ General Manager Gar Forman who explained the timing of Johnson’s D-League trip, “We had talked about doing this for several weeks and we looked at our schedule. We wanted to find a window where he could get a lot of time on the floor. While we’re out west the next two weeks, he’ll get eight games in.”
Johnson is now 5 games into his stint with the Energy and he’s making the most of it averaging 20.6 points (on 57% shooting), 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Johnson has also cut down on his turnovers, averaging only 3.2 per 36 minutes compared to an alarming 5.3 per-36 this season for the Bulls. Of course the most important benefit of his time with the Energy is, well, time…he’s averaging 31.6 precious minutes per game.
Sources say that Johnson is expected to reunite with his Bulls teammates when the team returns home from its current 5-game road trip on February 15. This timing is likely due to the fact that the Energy have no games scheduled from February 16-23 and the Bulls come back from the All Star break to play 4 games in 6 nights.
Johnson will reclaim his place on the Bulls bench, grab his favorite twirling towel and wait for his opportunity to provide energy with a capital “E” to the Bulls playoff push…on second thought, make it a lower case “e."
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