Orlando Johnson Showing What He Can Do At Las Vegas Summer League (Photo: Ryan Brown | Lets Go Warriors Instagram)
During his time in Las Vegas so far, Let’s Go Warriors was able to get an exclusive interview with Orlando Johnson, the starting shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors summer league team in Las Vegas.
Johnson is a former Big West Player of the Year (2010), while playing for UC Santa Barbara. He was drafted with the 36th pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, by the Sacramento Kings.
His journey was immediately re-routed after being traded to the Indiana Pacers, though he did return to the Kings to sign a 10-day contract to finish last season.
Now he gets another opportunity to play close to home with your Golden State Warriors, but he’ll have to prove himself in this year’s Las Vegas Summer League action.
Johnson said he is enjoying his time, but knows he needs to show that he can play at a high level.
“Really getting a feel for what they want to bring to Golden State, and just trying to imprint an impression on them that I can play,” Johnson said.
When asked who he rooted for as a kid, Johnson, who grew up in Seaside, CA, said it’s always been the Dubs.
“Golden State for sure. It is only right, they are about an hour from my hometown, so I definitely rooted for them,” Johnson said.
In a couple of games playing for the Indiana Pacers in the 2014 World Games in Manila, Philippines and Taipei, Taiwan, Johnson lit it up.
Per 48 minutes he averaged 41.6 points along with 6.4 rebounds. When asked about his progress from then to now, Johnson said he’s just been working hard, adding to his game.
“Kept working on the things I needed to work on… Staying aggressive, being tenacious on both ends of the floor,” Johnson said. “Offensively and defensively and showing my all-around ability that I can do pretty much everything out there.”
Steve Kerr said his impressions of Johnson thus far have been positive and that Johnson has picked up quickly on what the staff has been trying to teach.
“He’s strong, he can get to the rim. The key for him is to move the ball,” Kerr said. “He’s an NBA player if the dominoes fall the right way for him.”
Johson moved the ball well in the Warriors 74-72 win over the Phoenix Suns, leading the team with 3 assists.
“It’s all relative we only had nine assists,” Kerr said post-game. “He did a better job last night. There were a couple of possessions where he caught it and moved it, and just made a cut where we ended up scoring.”
Johnson will get another crack at it today as the Warriors will take on the Atlanta Hawks today at 3 PM Pacific on NBA TV.
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