Stanley Johnson (basketball)


Stanley Herbert Johnson Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He played one season of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats before being selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2015 NBA draft.

High school career

A native of Fullerton, California, Johnson was one of the top high school recruits of 2014 by Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN. He was a four-time CIF State champion at Mater Dei High School. He played in the 2014 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, 2014 Jordan Brand Classic and the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit. He was also a 2014 USA Today first team All-USA Boys Basketball Team selection. He scored 2,285 career points at Mater Dei, the third-highest mark in school history behind Taylor King and Tom Lewis.

College career

As a freshman at Arizona in 2014–15, Johnson was voted first-team All-Pac-12, and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He started 37 of the 38 games he played for the Wildcats, averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.
On April 23, 2015, Johnson declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining three years of college eligibility.

Professional career

Detroit Pistons (2015–2019)

Johnson entered the 2015 NBA draft as the 11th ranked prospect on ESPN's Top 100 draft board. He reportedly refused to attend a pre-draft workout hosted by the Charlotte Hornets, in hope of being drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the eighth overall pick, or the Miami Heat with the 10th selection. On June 25, 2015, he was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Pistons. In his debut for the Pistons on October 27, he recorded seven points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench in a 106–94 win over the Atlanta Hawks. On November 9, he recorded 20 points and seven rebounds in a 109–95 loss to the Golden State Warriors. On February 4, while starting at shooting guard in place of the injured Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Johnson scored a season-high 22 points in a 111–105 win over the New York Knicks.
In December 2016, Johnson spent a day with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League. On March 8, 2017, he scored a season-high 17 points in a 115–98 loss to the Indiana Pacers. On January 30, 2018, he scored a career-high 26 points in a 125–114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. On November 9, 2018, he scored a season-high 22 points in a 124–109 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

New Orleans Pelicans (2019)

On February 7, 2019, Johnson was acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade involving the Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks.

Toronto Raptors (2019–present)

On July 11, 2019, Johnson signed with the Toronto Raptors.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Awards and honors

;High school
;College
Johnson earned gold medals in the 2011 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship, 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and 2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. Johnson served as captain of the 2014 team and earned MVP of the 2014 tournament.

Personal life

Johnson was born in Anaheim, California to Karen Taylor and Stanley Johnson Sr. His parents divorced and his father remarried. Johnson was the couple's only child, and he was raised by his mother in Fullerton. His mother played college basketball for Jackson State, where she was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame in 2009; she also played professionally in Europe. Johnson is the stepson of Easter Johnson, and has two brothers and two sisters.