DJ rewind: Johnson hits 400 games

When you think of Adelaide 36ers club legends, the names Brett Maher, Mark Davis, Al Green and Darryl Pearce, the jerseys which are hanging from the rafters at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, come to mind straight away.

The word legend is not thrown around lightly, but by the end of his career, Daniel Johnson will have that tag of Adelaide 36ers club legend.

Johnson will run out for his 400^th NBL game on Friday night when the 36ers host Perth Wildcats at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre but for the big man known as ‘DJ’, it will just be another game.

“This has snuck up on me, I think it’s cool to be able to play so many games, especially for Adelaide as well,” Johnson said this week.

“To be in this league for as long is something I’m grateful for, hopefully I have a few more years left.”

Johnson says the game against the Wildcats is huge for his side, but not because he wants to win in his milestone match.

“It’s a massive game for us, Perth are below us on the ladder, so winning this match will get us up there,” Johnson said.

The 212cm centre said it was ironic his 400^th game will be against the Wildcats, after growing up in Western Australia before moving to the US to play college hoops.

“Things just work out the right way sometimes, it would be nice if it was over in Perth, but it’s good to play it in front of the home fans as well,” he said.

THE EARLY DAYS
The 212cm centre spent one season at Pepperdine University in 2007-08 before coming home to Australia to play in the NBL for Melbourne and Johnson said the Tigers deal at the time was too good to refuse.

“They (Melbourne) were the only team to offer me anything really,” Johnson said.

“They gave me a decent deal which included me playing in the off-season there, so I was going to be there all year round which was cool.”

The Tigers, who were spearheaded by former Dallas Maverick and Chicago Bull Chris Anstey at the time, gave Johnson a taste of what life as a professional basketballer could be.

“They showed me a lot of faith and they were a really good team then with a lot of good players, so it was a good starting point,” he said.

THE SIXERS EFFECT
After two seasons at Melbourne, Johnson made the move to Adelaide after then 36ers coach Marty Clarke convinced him there was greater opportunity in the City of Churches.

“Adelaide came pretty strong for me and I had played for Marty (Clarke) at the Institute (AIS),” Johnson said.

“I wanted someone who was going to be hard on me and push me and I got that with him (Clarke) and Mark Radford for three years, which really helped me along.”

Johnson admitted he didn’t think he would be at the 36ers for long, but the big man had a lifechanging experience.

“I thought Adelaide was going to be a pit stop to be honest,” he said.

“I’m a Perth boy and wanted to be home with family, but I met my wife (Daniela) and everything is history now.

“Adelaide is home, things have worked out well. I do love the city, there is a good vibe around town.”

In 2021, Johnson moved up to third spot as the most games played for the 36ers behind Maher (524) and Davis (481) but admitted he nearly did leave the club via free agency.

“One year I was considering it (free agency), but I have nearly always re-signed before free agency and it’s not a conversation I’ve really had to have,” he said.

“You have got to pay the bills, it’s a frustrating job at times but it’s really fun and you do things you can’t do in any other professions so I hope I can kick on for a while.”

THE ACCOLADES
The 34-year-old has a basketball resume like few others can boast of in the NBL.

A seven-time club MVP winner, a three-time All-NBL First Team member in 2014, 2017 and 2018 and Johnson was the league leading rebounder twice in 2013 and 2016.

“It’s nice to be recognised and I’m just being consistent every year and do my job,” he said.

But, championship success is what Johnson craves and after playing in three grand final series losses, one in Melbourne and two with Adelaide, the strive for that elusive ring is no greater.

“The two grand final series here, especially the second one, obviously pretty heartbreaking going down in game five, but those are special seasons,” he said.

This year’s NBL23 season provides another opportunity for championship glory and Johnson believes the roster is as good as any other.

“There has been some ups and downs, there is every year, but everyone is on the same page now and we are heading in the right direction,” he said.

“It’s a good group of guys, we are just trying to figure it out by the right time of the year.

“That is the one thing that is left to do (win a championship) and I think if we can get our stuff together this year we have a good chance to do that.

“Or I will keep running around until we get one.”

THE FUTURE
After 399 NBL games, one would think a player would be thinking about the hanging up the boots or life after basketball, but Johnson is taking his 14^th season in his stride just like his first year in the league.

In the off-season Johnson won a silver medal for Australia in the 3x3 basketball tournament at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a transition to the new style of hoops could be on the cards.

“The body still feels pretty good, I’m still getting up for all the games and enjoying it and feeling relatively fresh game days,” Johnson said.

“I want to play as long as I can and as long as I’m contributing and a part of it, I want to keep going.”

“I’m a WA boy, but Adelaide is home now, that’s for sure.”

Adelaide will always be home for Johnson now, and no doubt one day, he will walk into the Entertainment Centre with his family to proudly see the number 21 hanging in those rafters.