There’s great news regarding former Wildcat Stanley Johnson who is opting to make his path through the NBA G-League to get back into the NBA with the help of his new coach, and fellow Arizona Basketball star Miles Simon.
On Monday, Nov. 15th, former Arizona Basketball star Stanley Johnson was acquired by the South Bay Lakers, as the G-League team announced the huge pickup on Twitter: “The #SBLakers have acquired six-year NBA veteran Stanley Johnson. Welcome back to that Cali.”
Stanley Johnson will be playing for former NCAA Champion and LA Lakers Assistant coach Miles Simon. Both Johnson and Simon played for So Cal powerhouse Mater Dei High School, as did former South Bay Lakers star and Bruin Travis Wear.
Being from Southern California, many California-based Wildcats fans were ecstatic when Johnson announced his commitment to the University of Arizona. Do you remember how he announced? The then five-star recruit committed on television by holding up a pair of custom Air Jordan IIIs while smiling from ear to ear.
5-Star SF Stanley Johnson commits to #Arizona in style #GottaBeTheShoes pic.twitter.com/EtnvKwK7Pf
— Rivals (@Rivals) November 15, 2013
In Stanley’s first game playing for Miles Simon, he gave it his all in front of a sold-out crowd at the UCLA Health Center (Lakers Practice facility). The SB Lakers took on Team Ignite which includes high school grads who opted out of playing in the NCAA or overseas out of high school and Pooh Jeter, a veteran who has played all over the globe and in the past against Stanley in the Drew League in Compton, California.
Jeter and Team Ignite won the game 115-103, but Johnson played 31 minutes, scored 15 points, grabbed four steals and four rebounds. As a comparison, the Lakers rookie Mac McClung played the same amount of minutes and had similar stats.
Stanley Johnson is out here fighting 👊 pic.twitter.com/2T0iU47gid
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) November 18, 2021
There is a good possibility that Stanley could be called up to the Lakers this season if he continues to play well and prove he is worthy. He still has what it takes to play in the NBA. It is mind-boggling these days why NBA teams opt for unproven teenagers when they can have a six-year NBA player with experience, heart, and tenacity on their roster.
As a local native of Los Angeles and a huge Arizona Basketball fan, it warms my heart to see Stanley play in the Purple in Gold representing his city, and it must have been a dream of his since he can remember.
Johnson isn’t the only player in the G-League, Rudy Gay is also playing with similar hopes. It will be great to see this strategy work, as it seems to be a new path to take for players who are young and don’t have a current NBA Contract.
We wish Stanimal the best in his journey back to the NBA.