Former Los Angeles Lakers swingman Stanley Johnson has gone viral on social media for his impressive performances in the preseason for the B.League, the men’s professional basketball league in Japan.
The Nagasaki Velca star posted 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists against the Kumamoto Volters on September 15, while producing a series of thunderous dunks. The B.League’s X account noted that Johnson “demonstrated his full potential” and reminded the basketball world why he was the No. 8 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Johnson’s Velca destroyed the Volters, 115-65, in the preseason outing.
(via @B_LEAGUE)
Stanley Johnson Excites Fans
The highlights led to many fans wondering why Johnson was no longer in the NBA. The 6-foot-6 forward last played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2022-23 season. Replying to his highlights on the Ballislife X account, several fans chimed in with their views.
“That boy should be in the league,” wrote Kip Smithers.
He’s too good to not be in the NBA,” wrote Risktaker Ezo.
“Good for him,” wrote MG.
“Lowkey has one of the best high school mixtapes ever and nobody talks about it,” wrote Von.
“one of them ones that got away @Lakers,” wrote J.ust B.all.
‘Earned’ LeBron James’ Respect
Johnson started 27 games for the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, while coming off the bench in another 21 outings. Throughout his stint, Johnson earned high praise from then-Lakers head coach Frank Vogel and LeBron James, specifically for his ability to guard multiple positions and lock down the opponent’s best offensive threat.
During a March 2022 game, Johnson held then-76ers star James Harden to 3-of-10 shooting after similarly putting the clamps on the former MVP in previous outings. Vogel couldn’t stop praising Johnson after the game.
“Stanley was great tonight,” Vogel said, via Silver Screen and Roll. “Any time you play against a guy like James Harden, you have to work your tail off to guard him but you have to go back at him on the other end. I thought Stanley did a great job of that to start the game, really set a ton for our group in terms of ‘We’re going to attack these guys with aggressive offensive basketball as much as setting our defense.’
Meanwhile, LeBron James called Johnson one of the most underrated defenders he faced in the league, citing a first-round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons in 2016.
Stanley Johnson — he earned my respect in that first-round series [in 2016],” James said on his “Mind the Game” podcast.
Stanley Johnson had the lateral movement, he had the physicality. You can tell the coaching staff told him ‘Don’t worry about the schemes.’ I feel like the same thing with [Luguentz ] Dort, don’t worry about the schemes yet. Everybody’s switching but you. You get through every screen. If you weakside lowman, you have no responsibility, you don’t pull in. You’re basically playing a box-and-one.
“There’s a lot more guys, obviously, I would give credit to defensively but that’s the one guy off the top of my head. It’s not recent memory, it’s 10 years ago but it’s recent enough. But Stanley definitely possessed those skills in our league, for sure.'”
Ex-Lakers Star & LeBron James Favorite Making Waves in Japan