By Semih Tuna / info@eurohoops.net
Former 8th overall NBA draft pick Stanley Johnson decided this summer to try his luck in European basketball for the first time, signing a deal to join Anadolu Efes in Turkey.
Before the official start of his European adventure, in which he is set to play in the EuroLeague and TBSL, Johnson shared candid remarks with Eurohoops on various topics, from his transfer process to Turkey and his NBA experiences to his goals for the upcoming season.
First of all—the decision. He left the NBA after nine years, playing for the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors, LA Lakers, and San Antonio Kings, often with their G League affiliates.
“I can say I was in a bit of a tough situation in the NBA. I hadn’t found the environment I wanted for three years. Even if I played well, I was only getting minimum contracts. The following season, I couldn’t participate in training camp, and I received a two-year contract from another team, but I was traded afterward. There were times I was cut from the team when I was playing well. At some point, I thought I needed to go back to basics. I wanted an environment where I could have a proper training camp, play regularly, and compete to win,” Johnson said.
He was familiar with European and Turkish basketball, having followed the career of his fellow countryman, Nigel Hayes-Davis.
“I work with the same personal trainer as Nigel Hayes. I’ve followed his entire career, so I know what he did here last year. I knew Turkey was a beautiful country, but I didn’t expect it to be this beautiful; it was a lovely surprise for me. I know many people who come here for vacation. As soon as I mentioned I was moving to Istanbul, many of my friends shared their previous experiences here. During the period when I was deciding to come here, how comfortable my life would be was very important to me. From the moment I took my first step here, I’ve had a very nice routine, and I’m very satisfied with everything.”
Johnson is aware of Nigel’s record-breaking EuroLeague 50-point game.
“I wasn’t surprised at all; I wasn’t surprised at all. Performances like that depend a bit on the right conditions. For someone to score 50 points, everything has to go smoothly. But I know that Nigel has the ability and potential to do that in any game. He can score 50 points or exceed 30 points whenever he wants. We need to prepare accordingly to ensure that doesn’t happen again when we face Nigel.”
Looking back at his NBA career, besides his first four years with the Detroit Pistons—the team that drafted him—the 27-year-old forward struggled to find a permanent home, which eventually led him to cross the sea and come to Europe.
“A lot was happening in my life when I first entered the NBA. I was just 19 years old, trying to adapt to NBA basketball. When I first went to Toronto, I closely followed the development of players like Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam, seeing how they improved every day. I’m not saying this to blame anyone, but they had a very different development process.”
After the summer with Anadolu Efes, he’s excited for the upcoming season.
“One of the things I’ve been happy about throughout my career is that I never gave up on doing what I love. I keep doing everything I can to reach the highest level possible. I’m now 28 years old, and I’ve continued to work on my basketball every year. I’m starting to see the effects of that, especially in my shooting. I haven’t had the chance to play a full season or go through a training camp for a long time. That’s why I’m very excited about the performance I’ll show next season. I believe I’ll perform well, but I’m excited about how the process will unfold,” Stanley Johnson concluded.