Indiana Pacers Logo
James Johnson Headshot

Indiana Pacers | #16 | Forward

James

Johnson

PPG

0.9

RPG

0.4

APG

0.9

PIE

1.9

HEIGHT

6'7" (2.01m)

WEIGHT

240lb (109kg)

COUNTRY

USA

LAST ATTENDED

Wake Forest

AGE

37 years

BIRTHDATE

February 20, 1987

DRAFT

2009 R1 Pick 16

EXPERIENCE

14 Years

6'7" | 240lb | 37 years

DRAFT

2009 R1 Pick 16

BIRTHDATE

February 20, 1987

COUNTRY

USA

LAST ATTENDED

Wake Forest

EXPERIENCE

14 Years

Player Bio

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

2019-20 NBA SEASON (Miami/Minnesota): Played in a total of 32 games for Miami and Minnesota, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.3 minutes per game… In 18 games with the Heat, averaged 5.7 point, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 15.6 minutes pre game… Saw action in 14 games for the Timberwolves, averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 blocks in 24.1 minutes per game… Shot 50.0% (64-of-128) from the field for the Timberwolves… Tallied a season-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long distance, Jan. 20 vs. Sacramento… Dished out a season-high seven assists Mar. 3 vs. Orlando and had a season-high four blocks Feb. 21 vs. Boston. NBA CAREER NOTES: Acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Miami Heat in seven-player, three-team trade on Feb. 6, 2020. The Wolves sent Gorgui Dieng to Memphis as part of the trade… Traded by Chicago to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a 2011 first-round draft pick on Feb. 22, 2011… Traded by Toronto to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for a 2014 second-round draft-pick on July 16, 2012… Signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Hawks on Sept. 21, 2013… Waived by Atlanta on Oct. 21, 2013… Called up from the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and signed as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 16, 2013… Signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors on July 17, 2014… Signed as a free agent by Miami on July 10, 2016… Re-signed with Miami on July 7, 2017... 2018-19 (Miami): Appeared in 55 games (33 starts) with Miami, averaging 7.8 points (.433 FG%, .714 FT%), 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 21.2 minutes… Served as a team tri-captain with Udonis Haslem and Goran Dragić… Topped Miami in blocks 11 times, steals seven times and assists and plus/minus twice each… Scored in double figures 19 times…grabbed his 2,000th career rebound Nov. 27 vs. Atlanta… Made his 200th career start Dec. 22 vs. Milwaukee… Played in his 600th career game Apr. 7 at Toronto… 2017-18 (Miami): Appeared in 73 games (41 starts) with Miami, averaging 10.8 points (.503 FG%, .698 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.96 steals and 26.6 minutes… Served as a team tri-captain with Udonis Haslem and Goran Dragić… Set single-season career highs in starts and assists… Ranked 26th in the NBA in field goal percentage… Ranked second on the team in assists, steals and three-point plays… Recorded the only 30/10/5 game by a Heat player in 2017-18 (31 points/11 rebounds/6 assists Mar. 19 vs. Denver)… Set a franchise record for most total points in overtime with 18 in the two overtime periods Mar. 19 vs. Denver… Scored in double figures 39 times, including eight games with at least 20 points and one 30-point performance… Grabbed double-figure rebounds six times and amassed five double-doubles… Registered career highs in both points (31) and defensive rebounds (11) Mar. 19 vs. Denver… Scored his 4,000th career point Jan. 31 at Cleveland… Played in his 500th game Dec. 13 vs. Portland… Registered his 1,000th career assist and 400th career steal Jan. 14 vs. Milwaukee… Recorded his 500th career block Mar. 16 at the L.A. Lakers… 2016-17 (Miami): Saw action in 76 games (five starts) with Miami, averaging 12.8 points (.479 FG%, .707 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.13 blocks, 1.00 steals and 27.4 minutes… Led Miami in plus/minus (+138) and finished second in three-point plays (26), defensive and total rebounds, assists and blocks… Set single-season career highs in games, minutes, points, scoring average, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, three-point field goals made and attempted, three-point field goal percentage, defensive and total rebounds, steals and blocks… Ranked among NBA leaders in blocks per game (26th) and field goal percentage (40th)… Finished fifth in the voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award and sixth in the voting for the Most Improved Player of the Year award… Scored in double figures a career-high 55 times, including 11 games of at least 20 points… Scored in double figures in a career-high 12 consecutive games from Mar. 8-31 and scored at least 20 points in a career-high three straight games from Feb. 8-11… Made at least one three-point field goal in a career-high eight consecutive games twice (Dec. 30-Jan. 17 and Nov. 4-19)… Scored his 3,000th career point Jan. 10 at Golden State… Handed out a career-high 12 assists Jan. 13 at Milwaukee… Hit a career-high six three-point field goals Apr. 5 at Charlotte… 2015-16 (Toronto): Appeared in 57 games (32 starts) for Toronto, averaging 5.0 points (.475 FG%, .574 FT%), 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 16.2 minutes… 2014-15 (Toronto): Appeared in 70 games (17 starts) for the Raptors, averaging 7.9 points (.589 FG%, .657 FT%), 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.00 blocks and 19.6 minutes… Set a single-season career high in field goal percentage… Finished second on the team in blocks… Was Toronto’s leading scorer off the bench eight times… Scored in double figures 24 times, including a pair of 20-point games… Blocked at least one shot in a career-high 10 consecutive games from Feb. 11-Mar. 6… 2013-14 (Memphis/Rio Grande Valley): Split the season between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League… Appeared in 52 games (four starts) for the Grizzlies, averaging 7.4 points (.464 FG%, .844 FT%), 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.10 blocks and 18.4 minutes… Set a single-season career high in free throw percentage… Led the NBA in blocks on opponents’ three-point field goal attempts (16)… Ranked second on the team in blocks per game and third in total blocks… Scored in double figures 18 times, including one 20-point performance… Recorded multiple blocked shots in a career-high eight consecutive games from Jan. 7-24… Matched his career high in blocks with six Jan. 15 at Milwaukee… Started all 10 games in which he appeared for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging 18.5 points (.496 FG%, .773 FT%), 9.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.40 blocks, 1.90 steals and 29.9 minutes… At the time of his call-up, was the only G League player to rank in the Top 15 in scoring (14th), rebounding (12th) and assists (14th) while also placing third in blocks and tied for seventh in steals per game… 2012-13 (Sacramento): Appeared in 54 games (11 starts) for Sacramento, averaging 5.1 points (.413 FG%, .597 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.93 blocks and 16.3 minutes… Led the team in blocks per game and ranked third in total blocks… Scored in double figures 10 times… Hit a game-winning three-point field goal at the buzzer Dec. 28 vs. New York to give the Kings a 106-105 victory… 2011-12 (Toronto): Saw action in 62 games (40 starts) for Toronto in the lockout-shortened season, averaging 9.1 points (.450 FG%, .704 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.35 blocks, 1.15 steals and 25.2 minutes… Set a single-season career high in offensive rebounds… Became the first Raptor to lead the team in both steals and blocks in the same season… Ranked second on the team in field goals made and attempted, third in points, defensive and total rebounds, assists, free throws attempted and minutes and tied for third in free throws made… Scored in double figures 24 times, including three 20-point efforts… Started a career-high 36 consecutive games from Jan. 18-Mar. 26… Grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds Apr. 23 at Milwaukee… Had a career-high six steals Dec. 28 vs. Indiana… Blocked a career-high six shots Jan. 25 at Utah… 2010-11 (Chicago/Toronto/Iowa): Split the season between Chicago and Toronto and the Iowa Energy of the NBA G League… Appeared in 38 NBA games (25 starts), averaged 7.1 points (.456 FG%, .662 FT%), 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.97 blocks and 21.6 minutes… Came off the bench in all 13 games in which he appeared with the Bulls, averaging 3.2 points (.415 FG%, .462 FT%), 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 9.5 minutes… Started all 25 games in which he appeared for the Raptors, averaging 9.2 points (.464 FG%, .707 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.12 blocks, 1.00 steals and 28.0 minutes… Started all eight games in which he appeared with the Iowa Energy, averaging 19.3 points (.535 FG%, .918 FT%), 8.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.50 blocks, 1.00 steals and 32.1 minutes… 2009-10 (Chicago): Appeared in 65 games (11 starts) for the Bulls and averaged 3.9 points (.452 FG%, .729 FT%), 2.0 rebounds and 11.6 minutes… Ranked among NBA rookie leaders in blocks per game (4th)… Scored in double figures six times, including one 20-point performance… Hit a career-high 17 straight free throw attempts from Nov. 26-Jan. 9… Made his NBA debut on Oct. 30 at Boston… Made his first career start on Mar. 1 vs. Atlanta. PLAYOFFS NOTES: 2018 (Miami): Started all five games in Miami’s Opening Round series vs. Philadelphia, averaging 12.4 points (.548 FG%, .643 FT%), 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.20 steals, 1.20 blocks and 32.1 minutes… Ranked among NBA postseason leaders in three-point field goal percentage (5th), field goal percentage (12th), blocks per game (tied-12th), assists per turnover (14th) and assists per game (17th)… Led Miami in minutes, field goal percentage, defensive rebounds and assists and tied for the team lead in blocks… Topped the team in blocks twice and in minutes, rebounds and steals once each… Scored in double figures four times, including a postseason career-high 18 points in Miami’s Game 2 win on Apr. 16… Shot 7-7 from the floor in Game 2 which is one shy of the Heat postseason record for most field goals made in a game without a miss… Set postseason career high in both minutes (36:34) and steals (3) in Game 2… Grabbed a postseason career-high eight rebounds in Game 4 on Apr. 21… 2016 (Toronto): Came off the bench in all 10 games in which he appeared for the Raptors, averaging 3.0 points (.480 FG%, .667 FT%), 1.5 rebounds and 9.8 minutes… Appeared in just one game in the Opening Round series vs. Indiana, totaling two points and one assist in 3:19 of action… Saw action in three games of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series vs. Miami and was scoreless with two rebounds and a steal in 12:32 of action… Appeared in all six games in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cleveland, averaging 4.7 points (.500 FG%, .000 FT%), 2.2 rebounds and 13.6 minutes… 2015 (Toronto): Came off the bench in both games in which he appeared for Toronto in its Opening Round series vs. Washington, averaging 2.0 points (.333 FG%, .000 FT%), 1.0 rebounds and 6.0 minutes… 2014 (Memphis): Came off the bench in all three games in which he appeared for Memphis in its Opening Round series vs. Oklahoma City, averaging 6.3 points (.333 FG%, .700 FT%), 2.0 rebounds and 9.3 minutes… 2010 (Chicago): Came off the bench in all four games in which he appeared for Chicago in its Opening Round series vs. Cleveland and was scoreless with one rebound and one assist in 19:55 of action.

BEFORE NBA

Played two seasons at Wake Forest before becoming an early entry candidate for the 2009 NBA Draft… Appeared in 61 games (59 starts) for the Demon Deacons, averaging 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.44 blocks, 1.39 steals and 29.9 minutes… Was a two-time Third Team All-ACC selection…was a Freshman All-American and the runner-up for the ACC Rookie of the Year… Finished his career with 903 points and 508 rebounds… Led Wake Forest in rebounds in each of his two seasons… 2008-09: Started all 31 games for the Deacon Demons as a sophomore, averaging 15.0 points (.542 FG%, .697 FT%), 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.55 blocks, 1.42 steals and 30.5 minutes… Led the team in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks as a sophomore and ranked second in scoring and steals… Had career highs of 28 points and 18 rebounds Feb. 26 vs. North Carolina State… Hit a game-winning lay-up with 0.8 seconds left to beat No. 1 ranked Duke, 70-68, on Jan. 28… Led Wake Forest with 22 points, eight rebounds and four blocks vs. Cleveland State in the Opening Round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament at Miami… 2007-08: Appeared in all 30 games (28 starts) for Wake as a freshman, averaging 14.6 points (.487 FG%, .689 FT%), 8.1 rebounds, 1.37 steals, 1.33 blocks, 1.2 assists and 29.2 minutes… Was just the third player in school history to earn All-ACC honors as a freshman joining Rodney Rogers and Chris Paul… Was named to the ACC All-Freshman team after leading the Deacon Demons in both points and rebounds, becoming the first freshman to accomplish the feat since Rodney Rogers in 1991… His 8.1 rebounds per game average was the 13th best by a freshman in ACC history… Scored 24 points and grabbed a season-best 16 rebounds in Wake’s upset of second-ranked Duke on Feb. 17.

PERSONAL LIFE

Is the son of Willie and Vi Johnson and the middle child of nine children (six brothers and two sisters)… Married his wife Diana in October of 2017… Has three sons (Harlem, Naymin and Golden)… His father is a seven-time world kickboxing champion and a former Marine and his mother is a five-time nationals winner as a competitor in the sport… His parents are both black belts and each of his eight siblings are black belts of varying degrees… He holds a second-degree black belt… Fought in his first mixed martial arts bout at the age of 18 and was declared the winner after 97 seconds… Has an undefeated record in seven MMA matches, having fought in Utah, Colorado and Las Vegas… Has used martial arts to train and went 21-0 in kickboxing competition… When he’s done playing he would like to get involved in MMA… Is the second person of Samoan heritage to play in the NBA, following Wally Rank who played for the L.A. Clippers in the 1980-81 season… Enjoys playing golf in his free time… Created a series of signature hats for New Era during the 2017-18 season… His favorite sport other than basketball is football and he’s a fan of the New York Giants… As a junior in high school he led Cheyenne East to the 2006 Class 4A state championship.