Cameron Jordan Johnson (born March 3, 1996) is an American professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player for the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The t ...

of the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

(NBA). He played

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

for the Pittsburgh Panthers and the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the ''Tar Heel ...

. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the eleventh overall pick in the

2019 NBA draft The 2019 NBA draft was held on June 20, 2019. It took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur United States college basketball players and other eligible players, i ...

, Johnson was traded to the

Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...

on draft night. During his sophomore season, he reached the

2021 NBA Finals The 2021 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2020–21 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, the Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks d ...

with the Suns.

High school career

As a junior in high school, Johnson was a 6-foot-2 point guard before having a growth spurt. He graduated from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. As a senior at OLSH, Johnson averaged 27.8 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. He finished his career with 1,175 points. He signed with

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

in April 2014.

College career

Pittsburgh (2014–2017)

Johnson suffered a shoulder injury shortly into his first year at Pittsburgh and was allowed to redshirt during that season in order to undergo rehabilitation for his injury. He was used as a substitute during his redshirt freshman year. As a redshirt sophomore at Pitt, Johnson averaged 11.9 points per game and hit 41.5% of his three-point attempts. Johnson graduated from

with a degree in communications in three years. He took advantage of the graduate transfer rule and moved to North Carolina without sitting out a year. The University of Pittsburgh initially refused to allow his release to their in-conference rival Tar Heels but eventually relented. He cited uncertainty in coaching and a losing record as factors in his decision to transfer.

North Carolina (2017–2019)

On November 15, 2017, five days after his team's season opener, Johnson had surgery to fix a torn meniscus. Johnson ended up sitting out ten games. Although hindered by the injury, Johnson finished third on the team in scoring with 12.4 points per game as well as grabbing 4.7 rebounds per game in his redshirt junior season. Johnson scored a career-high 32 points against Clemson. After the season, Johnson underwent an arthroscopic hip procedure and announced his intention to return to North Carolina for his senior season. Johnson's senior season proved to be his most statistically successful campaign. Unhindered by injury, Johnson was the leading scorer for the Tar Heels with 16.9 points per game and averaged 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Johnson shot 50.6 percent from the field and 45.7 percent from three, leading some commentators to call Johnson "the best shooter in hedraft." Johnson had several notable performances during his senior season. Playing against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, Johnson shot 79% from the field for the game and made his first six three-point attempts, ultimately finishing with 27 points in a 95–57 rout of the Demon Deacons. Against rival

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...

in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Johnson finished with 26 points in an 88–72 victory against the Blue Devils, then the nation's top-ranked team. Against Clemson in

Littlejohn Coliseum The Littlejohn Coliseum is a 9,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Clemson, South Carolina, United States. It is home to the Clemson University Tigers men's and women's basketball teams. It is also the site of Clemson graduations and the Clemson C ...

, Johnson made six three-pointers to finish with 19 points in a two-point victory. After the conclusion of conference play, Johnson was named to the All-ACC first team.

Professional career

Phoenix Suns (2019–2023)

On June 20, 2019, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Johnson with the eleventh overall pick in the

, then immediately traded him and Dario Šarić to the

for

Jarrett Culver Jarrett Culver (born February 20, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. He played college ...

, the sixth pick of the draft. The trade was officially completed on July 6, with the Suns later announcing that they had signed Johnson the same day. On October 26, 2019, Johnson made his NBA debut coming off the bench in a 130–122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On November 19, he scored a season-high 18 points in a 120–116 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Johnson then matched his season-high on December 5 in a 139–132 overtime win over the

New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...

. Johnson had his first professional start with the team on February 10, 2020, against the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

. On March 3, 2020, Johnson scored a new season-high of 21 points on his 24th birthday in a 123–114 loss to the defending champion Toronto Raptors. After originally being out for the rest of March due to illness, Johnson returned to action as a starter on July 31, scoring 12 points in a 125–112 win over the

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast D ...

. Two days later, Johnson had his first professional double-double with 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds in a 117–115 win over the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference (NBA), Western Conferenc ...

. He later recorded his second double-double of his rookie season on August 6, matching his season-high 12 rebounds with 14 points scored in a 114–99 win over the

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...

. Two days later, Johnson broke the franchise record previously set by

Wesley Person Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing career, Person became a women's basketball assistant coach and then the he ...

for the quickest player to score at least 100 three-pointers in a 119–112 win over the Miami Heat, reaching it in only 54 games played. With Johnson starting for Phoenix, the Suns would have an 8–0 record in the

2020 NBA Bubble The 2020 NBA Bubble, also referred to as the Disney Bubble or the Orlando Bubble, was the bio-secure bubble at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, that was created by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to protect its play ...

as of August 13, having a winning streak of at least 7 games for the first time since March 2010. On December 27, 2020, Johnson matched his then career-high of 21 points off the bench in a 116–100 win over the Sacramento Kings. Johnson helped the Suns reach the

, but the Suns lost the series in 6 games to the

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1968 ...

. On March 4, 2022, Johnson put up a career-high 38 points with nine three-pointers made alongside a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer in a 115–114 win over the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...

. He finished third in

NBA Sixth Man of the Year The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's best performing player for his team coming off the bench as a substit ...

voting, behind winner Tyler Herro and Kevin Love. To start the 2022–23 season, Johnson was named the starting power forward for the Suns by head coach Monty Williams. On November 8, 2022, Johnson underwent surgery to remove part of the meniscus in his right knee and was ruled out for at least one to two months.

Brooklyn Nets (2023)

On February 9, 2023, the Suns traded Johnson to the

, along with

Mikal Bridges Mikal Bridges (born August 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, winning national championships in 2016 ...

Jae Crowder Corey Jae Crowder (born July 6, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Not being heavily recruited out of high school, Crowder committed to South Georgia Technical ...

, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 first-round pick swap, in exchange for

Kevin Durant Kevin Wayne Durant ( ; born September 29, 1988), also known by his initials KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for t ...

and

T. J. Warren Anthony "T. J." Warren Jr. (born September 5, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball as a small forward for the NC State Wolfpack in the ...

. Johnson made his Nets debut two days later, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a 101–98 loss to the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

. On July 6, 2023, Johnson re-signed with the Nets.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 57 , , 9 , , 22.0 , , .435 , , .390 , , .807 , , 3.3 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , .4 , , 8.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 60 , , 11 , , 24.0 , , .420 , , .349 , , .847 , , 3.3 , , 1.4 , , .6 , , .3 , , 9.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 66 , , 16 , , 26.2 , , .460 , , .425 , , .860 , , 4.1 , , 1.5 , , .9 , , .2 , , 12.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 17 , , 16 , , 25.2 , , .474 , , .455 , , .818 , , 3.8 , , 1.5 , , .9 , , .4 , , 13.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, 25 , , 25 , , 30.8 , , .468 , , .372 , , .851 , , 4.8 , , 2.1 , , 1.4 , , .3 , , 16.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 225 , , 77 , , 25.0 , , .447 , , .393 , , .843 , , 3.8 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , .3 , , 11.3

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...

, style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 21 , , 0 , , 21.1 , , .500 , , .446 , , .906 , , 3.1 , , .8 , , .9 , , .2 , , 8.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

, style="text-align:left;", Phoenix , 13 , , 3 , , 24.6 , , .465 , , .373 , , .813 , , 3.5 , , 1.5 , , .4 , , .1 , , 10.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 4 , , 4 , , 38.0 , , .509 , , .429 , , .857 , , 5.8 , , 2.8 , , .8 , , .3 , , 18.5 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 38 , , 7 , , 24.1 , , .489 , , .416 , , .859 , , 3.6 , , 1.2 , , .7 , , .2 , , 10.2

College

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2014–15 , style="text-align:left;",

, 8 , , 0 , , 14.4 , , .394 , , .348 , , .500 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .1 , , .4 , , 4.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 , style="text-align:left;",

, 32 , , 1 , , 11.7 , , .397 , , .375 , , .808 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .3 , , .2 , , 4.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 , style="text-align:left;",

, 33 , , 33 , , 33.3 , , .447 , , .415 , , .811 , , 4.5 , , 2.3 , , .9 , , .3 , , 11.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 , style="text-align:left;",

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, 26 , , 20 , , 29.3 , , .426 , , .341 , , .847 , , 4.7 , , 2.3 , , .7 , , .2 , , 12.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2018–19 , style="text-align:left;",

, 36 , , 36 , , 29.9 , , .505 , , .457 , , .818 , , 5.8 , , 2.4 , , 1.2 , , .3 , , 16.9 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 135 , , 90 , , 25.4 , , .456 , , .405 , , .817 , , 4.1 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , .3 , , 11.2

Personal life

Johnson is

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. When the national anthem is played before games, he recites Psalm 23. In Phoenix he also wore the jersey number 23 in part because of Psalm 23. Johnson’s brother, Donovan “Puff” Johnson, plays basketball for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Johnson's mother, a Croatian American, is a school nurse. This inspired Johnson to give out special appreciation to the healthcare workers and their families on their February 7, 2021 home game against the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

, the Suns' first home game since March 8, 2020 to have fans enter their arena after dealing with the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

References

External links

North Carolina Tar Heels bioPittsburgh Panthers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Cameron 1996 births Living people American men's basketball players American people of Croatian descent Brooklyn Nets players Minnesota Timberwolves draft picks North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players People from Moon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Basketball players from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Phoenix Suns players Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball players Small forwards 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players United States men's national basketball team players