Johnson completes first full practice since surgery
Veteran forward unlikely to be on opening-night roster
MIAMI — James Johnson, who was projected as the Miami Heat’s opening-night starting power forward, Monday went through his first contact practice since his May surgery for a sports hernia, but still appears unlikely to make his 2018-19 debut with the rest of his teammates Wednesday against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center.
“J.J. was able to go through the full-scale practice. That’s his first one with full contact,” coach Erik Spoelstra said after the session at AmericanAirlines Arena. “J.J. will need some more work. But that’s obviously a great sign.”
Johnson said before training camp that his hope was to participate in at least one exhibition, with that six-game schedule coming and going without an appearance.
“I feel good. I’m getting better every day,” he said, one of the last two players to leave the practice floor Monday, along with Derrick Jones Jr., with both having missed Sunday’s practice due to illness. “I’m super confident in our team right now, regardless of whether I’m playing or not, since it’s all part of the culture and next guy up.
“Right now, I’m just working my way into it and I’m not trying to speed nothing up.”
Johnson said when trainer Jay Sabol and Heat President Pat Riley issue clearance, he will be back in uniform. “Once they feel I’m comfortable and confident of being all the way back, I will be.”
Spoelstra has said the current timetable is similar to what was envisioned when Johnson had his surgery.
“I think it was always their game plan all along — a change in mine,” Johnson said. “Of course I wanted to be out there with my guys. Of course I wanted to play some preseason games. But that’s just not how it worked out.
“I finally passed a little conditioning test I was supposed to do, and now I’m going to go from there, get stronger, and hopefully I can join the guys as soon as possible.”
Wayne Ellington, who also missed all six preseason games, said he was hopeful of returning for the opener, as he pushes through ankle pain.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer right now, but I’m hoping so,” he said, with the practice Tuesday. right now.”
Forward Justise Winslow, who was held out of Friday’s preseason finale due to what the team listed as rest, was limited Monday.
“Justise went through about Heat again to “It feels good half the practice,” Spoelstra said. “He’s still having some hamstring tightness.”