Injuries open door for veteran Johnson
Journeyman forward called up from Austin to add depth to a banged-up frontcourt
OKLAHOMA CITY — Alize Johnson was only hours off a plane in from Birmingham when his phone buzzed.
It was Johnson's agent, telling him not to get too comfortable upon returning to Austin.
“He told me I was headed back up to San Antonio,” Johnson said. “I really wasn't expecting it. It's a blessing.”
Wrecked by injuries in the frontcourt, the Spurs signed Johnson to a one-year deal earlier this week in hopes the
26-year-old journeyman could provide much-needed depth.
The 6-foot-7 Johnson joined the Spurs for their game in
Oklahoma City on Wednesday, where the team was without starting center Jakob Poeltl and power forward Jeremy Sochan. Both players are nursing quad injuries.
Having spent training camp with the Spurs before being waived in October, Johnson opened the season with the club's G League affiliate in Austin.
He had just returned with the team from a pair of games in Birmingham on Monday when he received word he was no longer a G Leaguer.
“We landed in Austin about 5 o'clock, then I got the call around 8,” Johnson said. “Then I had to drive to San Antonio to make practice the next day. It's a lot of traveling.”
Over the course of four professional seasons, Johnson
has grown accustomed to moving around.
An alum of Missouri State, Johnson was a second-round pick of the Indiana Pacers in 2018.
He appeared in 31 games with Indiana over two seasons, then hooked on with Brooklyn for an 18-game stint in 2020-21.
Johnson spent last season bouncing between Chicago, Washington and New Orleans.
Compared to that level of globetrotting, Johnson said, the 90-minute drive he had to make from Austin to San Antonio was nothing.
“My whole journey has been all over the place,” Johnson said. “I’m used to doing stuff like that. It wasn’t outside the normal.”
Johnson arrives in San Antonio knowing nothing is guaranteed — neither playing time nor his contract.
He hopes to contribute what he can while he
can.
Johnson has been efficient in his limited NBA appearances, averaging 12.2 points and 14.6 rebounds per 36 minutes.
“I think I bring defense, a little of that dog, that fight,” Johnson said. “It’s a great group of guys here, and I feel like I could help.”
Roby credits OKC for boost
Spurs forward Isaiah Roby was back in the familiar environs of the Paycom Center on Wednesday, his first trip back to the arena he called home for his first three NBA seasons.
Roby averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 109 games with the Thunder, who waived him last summer.
“I really enjoyed my time in OKC,” the 24year-old Roby said. “It helped get me to where I am at today as a player. I owe a lot to that city and the organization.”
Roby’s final season with the Thunder was
his best. He averaged 10.1 points and shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range albeit on only 99 attempts.
It is a skill Roby has begun to migrate to San Antonio as well.
Heading into Wednesday, Roby was hitting 42.3 percent from long range this season, including
45 percent in November.
Roby credits his time in OKC for his improvement beyond the arc, at least in part.
“It’s just the reps, working with the coaching staff, building off the year I had last year,” Roby said. “Just continuing to push myself to be
a better shooter.”
Cup loyalty not easy for Sochan
As a self-described citizen of the world — and a soccer fan to boot — Sochan has no shortage of rooting interest in the World Cup competition.
The American-born, English-bred 19-year-old with Polish heritage, Sochan said picking a favorite team is difficult.
“I should say I support England or Poland,” Sochan said. “But I really want Brazil or Argentina to win.”
Sochan said he is pulling for Argentine star Lionel Messi, who at age 35 is appearing in his final World Cup.
“Messi deserves one,” Sochan said.
Of course, this was before Argentina defeated Poland, 2-0 on Wednesday. The win delivered the top spot in Group C to Argentina, but both teams moved on to the round of 16, where Argentina will face Australia and Poland will play France.
Asked his choice between England and Poland, Sochan stayed diplomatic.
“No comment,” Sochan said.