Bruton: 'DJ legend will live on forever'

Adelaide 36ers head coach CJ Bruton said for Daniel Johnson to have his jersey retired was an emotional time for the club as he looks in a new direction as part of the NBL24 roster build.

The club will retire the No.21 jersey during the NBL24 season where the Johnson name will hang from the Adelaide Entertainment Centre rafters.

“We all know DJ is a legend, to know the 21 is going to hang from the rafters is a great recognition for his brilliant career in Adelaide,” Bruton said.

"To be able to dominate at a high rate where most imports dominate that position for a long time. He's a special human.

"I think only a few Australians I know to be in his sort of level of play and also achieve what he has achieved, I think everyone will say the same thing. He's a great guy on and off the floor and he's a compeitior, every single day.

“As tough as this is, we think this is the best move for the club and we think the time is now for the next generation to step up and make their mark in this league.”

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Johnson, who will become the fifth player to have his jersey number retired at the club along with Brett Maher, Mark Davis, Al Green and Daryl Pearce, will not be part of the 36ers NBL24 roster and is intending to finish his career overseas.

The 212cm forward/centre scored 6160 points across his 15-year career, averaging 15.9 points per night.

Johnson is third all-time in games played for the Adelaide 36ers behind Brett Maher (524) and Mark Davis (481) and was named the 2012 NBL Most Improved Player.

The 414-game NBL veteran made the All-NBL First Team on three occasions (2014, 2017, 2018) and the All-NBL Second Team three times (2013, 2016, 2019).