Inside the Hornets
Johnson happy to be back in New Orleans, on floor
It's possible that well after his playing days are over, Hornets forward Linton Johnson will look back on Feb. 23, 2006 with fond memories.
When the New Jersey Nets dealt the seldom-used Johnson to the Hornets, it didn't just give the 25-year-old a shot at seeing significant action for the first time since 2003-04. It also meant that Johnson would get the chance to return to New Orleans, where he played college hoops at Tulane University.
"I love New Orleans and the people down there," said Johnson, whose girlfriend is a Baton Rouge native. "We just want to give something back to that area. We're bringing a good team down there and hopefully we can provide some good entertainment. I'm happy to just be able to do that for them."
The 6-foot-8, 225-pounder enjoyed an incredible Hornets debut two days after the trade, setting a career-high at Utah in points with 17. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, two short of his career-best figure.
"Being able to come right in and fill a role in this system, I think it was a perfect fit," described Johnson, whose uncle, Mickey Johnson, played in the NBA from 1974-86. "Things could not have worked out any better."
Linton Johnson's NBA Superlatives
Most memorable moment in the NBA: "Winning a championship last year in San Antonio."
Favorite dunk in the NBA: "My best dunk was actually against New Orleans when I was on the Bulls. (Former Hornet forward Robert) 'Tractor' Traylor tried to block it."
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: "Getting waived (by Chicago) right before the date when contracts were guaranteed for the rest of the (2003-04) season."
Toughest player to face at his position: Lamar Odom. "He's real big and he can handle the ball. When I was playing for the Bulls, he was my toughest guy to guard."
Most underrated non-Hornets player in the NBA: Kirk Hinrich.
Favorite NBA arena to play in: New Orleans Arena. "I played really well there. I had a career-high in points."
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Los Angeles.
Best trash-talker in the NBA: Gary Payton. "My rookie year, I blocked his shot, and I said 'get that out of here.' Right after that, I said to myself, 'Why did I do that?' Because (Payton) talked the whole rest of the game. A lot of it wasn't even about basketball. I was almost ready to start fighting him. He started saying stuff like 'your momma ain't.' and 'I've scored more points than you ever will' and 'I make more money than you.' "
Change he'd make if he were NBA commissioner: "They're making the game too soft. I think suspending people after they get a certain number of technical fouls, that's one thing I'd change. Technical fouls aren't always a bad thing, because sometimes it gets your team fired up."
Johnson
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When the New Jersey Nets dealt the seldom-used Johnson to the Hornets, it didn't just give the 25-year-old a shot at seeing significant action for the first time since 2003-04. It also meant that Johnson would get the chance to return to New Orleans, where he played college hoops at Tulane University.
"I love New Orleans and the people down there," said Johnson, whose girlfriend is a Baton Rouge native. "We just want to give something back to that area. We're bringing a good team down there and hopefully we can provide some good entertainment. I'm happy to just be able to do that for them."
The 6-foot-8, 225-pounder enjoyed an incredible Hornets debut two days after the trade, setting a career-high at Utah in points with 17. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, two short of his career-best figure.
"Being able to come right in and fill a role in this system, I think it was a perfect fit," described Johnson, whose uncle, Mickey Johnson, played in the NBA from 1974-86. "Things could not have worked out any better."
Linton Johnson's NBA Superlatives
Most memorable moment in the NBA: "Winning a championship last year in San Antonio."
Favorite dunk in the NBA: "My best dunk was actually against New Orleans when I was on the Bulls. (Former Hornet forward Robert) 'Tractor' Traylor tried to block it."
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: "Getting waived (by Chicago) right before the date when contracts were guaranteed for the rest of the (2003-04) season."
Toughest player to face at his position: Lamar Odom. "He's real big and he can handle the ball. When I was playing for the Bulls, he was my toughest guy to guard."
Most underrated non-Hornets player in the NBA: Kirk Hinrich.
Favorite NBA arena to play in: New Orleans Arena. "I played really well there. I had a career-high in points."
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Los Angeles.
Best trash-talker in the NBA: Gary Payton. "My rookie year, I blocked his shot, and I said 'get that out of here.' Right after that, I said to myself, 'Why did I do that?' Because (Payton) talked the whole rest of the game. A lot of it wasn't even about basketball. I was almost ready to start fighting him. He started saying stuff like 'your momma ain't.' and 'I've scored more points than you ever will' and 'I make more money than you.' "
Change he'd make if he were NBA commissioner: "They're making the game too soft. I think suspending people after they get a certain number of technical fouls, that's one thing I'd change. Technical fouls aren't always a bad thing, because sometimes it gets your team fired up."
