When considering the past eight years, not much.

First there was Danny Fortson from 1997 to 1999. Then Nick Van Exel from 1998 to 2002. Followed by Kenny Satterfield during the 2001-02 season. Earlier this summer Kenyon Martin joined the Nuggets for what will be the first of many seasons to come. Now it’s DerMarr Johnson’s turn to follow the trend.

Johnson, a 6-9, 201 lb. guard, signed a contract with the Nuggets on October 18. Denver will be his fourth stop in five seasons since leaving the University of Cincinnati in 2000. Johnson’s journey to the Mile High City has been an unconventional one to say the least.

Johnson shares a laugh with new teammate Carmelo Anthony. (Nuggets.com)

After a terrific freshman season at UC, one in which DerMarr was named a Freshman All-American, Johnson made himself eligible for the NBA Draft. He was selected sixth overall by Atlanta, the starting point of his amazing journey.

As a rookie with the Hawks, DerMarr was used sparingly and only managed an average of 5.1 ppg in 16.8 minutes of play.

“My first year was pretty much up and down,” said Johnson. “Although I didn’t play much, I tried to show flashes of what I could do if given the opportunity.”

During his second year in the NBA, Johnson was finally given that opportunity and he took advantage of it. He started 46 games for the Hawks and averaged 8.4 ppg on the season. The full season statistics don’t do him much justice because the majority of his numbers came during the second half of the year. Needless to say, Johnson closed out his second NBA season with a great deal of promise as Atlanta’s starting shooting guard.

That summer Johnson worked harder then ever before in an attempt to tighten his grip on the starting spot. He put on 18 pounds of muscle and, more importantly, strengthened the relationship between he and the Hawks coaching staff.

“I was looking forward to having a great third year. It was going to be my breakout,” claimed Johnson. “But then,” he paused, “I had my accident.”

The car accident that DerMarr Johnson is referring to not only cost him his starting position, it nearly cost him his life. Johnson fractured four vertebrae in his neck, causing him to lose all right to left movement of his head. For the seven weeks that followed, DerMarr was forced to wear a stabilizing halo around his head while his neck healed.

“I never got any surgery, so I had to just wait for the bones to heel themselves,” said Johnson while rubbing the back of his neck. “The rest of my body felt fine, I just couldn’t move my head.”

Johnson’s breakout year in the NBA was put on hold indefinitely. He spent the entire 2002-03 season on the sidelines working to return to NBA form, not to mention the Hawks starting line-up. However, at the conclusion of the season, Atlanta let Johnson go. He was now forced to prove that he could make a full recovery to unfamiliar faces.

Johnson (far right) listens to his new coach alongside his new teammates. (Nuggets.com)

The first part of last season, Johnson played semi-professional basketball to prove to scouts that everything was back to normal. Eventually the New York Knicks picked him up for the remainder of the 2003-04 season. Despite averaging 5.4 ppg in only 13.7 minutes a game with the Knicks, Johnson was once again a free agent without a home at the end of the year.

While at Cincinnati, Johnson played alongside a little known player by the name of Kenyon Martin. He and Martin have remained the closest of friends since their days of wearing the black and red together. So, when it turned out that Martin would be heading to the West for a new opportunity, Johnson saw a new beginning on the horizon for himself as well.

“As soon as the [Kenyon Martin] trade went down, he called me up and asked me what my plans were,” said Johnson as Martin, his new teammate, walked by and jokingly poked fun at him. “So, he kind of pushed for me to come out here and join him.”

The way things are beginning to shape up, Johnson is sure glad that he did.

“This is the best training camp I’ve been in and the best team that I’ve ever been on,” Johnson admitted. “I think this team can go far.”

It seems as if the reuniting of Martin and Johnson might be the Nuggets good luck charm for this season. DerMarr joked that the only other time the two of them played together their team was ranked number one in the country.

“It looks like five years later and now we could be in the same situation again,” laughed Johnson.

In addition to all his hopes for the team this upcoming season, Johnson still has a much more serious goal burning inside of him.

“I just want to show everybody that I still could be a good player in this league. I was a sixth overall pick, but haven’t done much yet,” stated Johnson. “It’s my goal to turn that around.”

This season with the Nuggets, the opportunity is once again there for DerMarr Johnson. All he has to do now is take advantage of it.