James Johnson might miss beginning of season.
“I feel like I’m coming along in the right way.” James Johnson, Heat forward
MIAMI — The Miami Heat could be down two starters for their regularseason opener Oct. 17.
In addition to the team recently confirming that guard Dion Waiters will miss the entire preseason and likely the start of the regular season in the wake of last January’s ankle surgery, power forward James Johnson said at Monday’s media day at American-Airlines Arena that he is not certain to be on the court on opening night.
Johnson underwent surgery following last season for a sports hernia, with coach Erik Spoelstra saying Monday that his versatile forward will be brought along cautiously during training camp. The Heat open camp today at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
“I feel like I’m coming along in the right way,” Johnson, 31, said. “I’m not going to do nothing I’m not supposed to push. And for me right now, a setback right now is the same as going back for surgery.”
So far, Johnson said there have been no setbacks.
“They have me on a great program,” Johnson said. “They’ve been drilling my program. They’ve been drilling my rehab since the surgery and I’m not going to veer off now.”
Asked if he would be ready for the start of the regular season, Johnson said, “Um, you know, that’s one day at a time for me right now. That’s my goal. And, to be honest, my goal is to be back before that first game, try to get a couple of preseason games in.”
The Heat long have erred on the side of caution in injury situations, including Waiters’ extended return schedule from his ankle surgery. Among options at power forward for the Heat are Bam Adebayo, Kelly Olynyk, Justise Winslow and Udonis Haslem, as well as neophytes Yante Maten and Duncan Robinson, the undrafted forwards under two-way contracts.
Johnson, who is entering the second year of a fouryear contract he signed a year ago, will earn $14.7 million this season.
Johnson said he appreciates the value of himself and Waiters to the lineup, with the two now having to work their way back without the benefit of contact work during camp, which runs through Saturday’s public scrimmage at FAU.
“I’m going to be there every step of the way at camp,” Johnson said. “And I know when Dion comes back, it’s always the same thing. As long as he’s out there watching practices and watching things that we’re trying to accomplish this year, it’s easy to gel a guy like Dion in there.”
Johnson downplayed being limited during what turned into an uneven 2017-18 season.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I went out there and I played. And that’s the end of the story right there. So, if it wasn’t good enough, if it wasn’t adequate, then it’s on me. And I’m preparing to be better this year.”
Waiters was not made available at media day but was at the arena with his teammates.
“He didn’t have a setback. He’s actually on course,” Spoelstra said of Waiters. “He’ll be back when his body tells him he can be back. I’m encouraged by the fact he’s able to work. He’s on the court and able to do stuff. We’ll continue to monitor.”