The dizzying whirlwind that swept through Alize Johnson began in the early hours of Sunday morning in Pennsylvania, included a trip to Brooklyn and a Nets debut on Wednesday in Utah.
Johnson had finished the G-League season and was in Willamsport, Pennsylvania, at his mother’s house – the house he bought for her last November – when his phone rang. On the other side was his agent, George Langberg, with a rhetorical question.
“When I told him the news, it was one in the morning on Sunday,” Langberg told The Post. “When Sean [Marks] hit me, I called Alize. He was in Williamsport, in the house he bought for his mother. I called him and he answered. I asked if you would like to be a Brooklyn Net? “
Of course, Johnson responded in the way that anyone would.
“He was like, are you [screwing] with me, ”said Langberg.
But the Nets weren’t messing with him. They sent a car service to bring him to Brooklyn for a physical exam, signed a 10-day contract with him and flew him to Utah the next day, while defeating Portland. They joined him in Salt Lake City, and he was introduced to his new coaches and teammates.
“It was crazy,” said Johnson, 24. “I got a call from my agent and he told me that I was going to be a Brooklyn Net. I was excited just to meet the great guys they have here and the vets.
“So just getting here and that flight took about five hours, that was a long one. But then I went in and met [coach Steve] Nash. He was one of the first people I met. I’ve been watching him for a while, so it was really cool. Getting all this information and getting to work is really a blessing and I can’t be happier.
Johnson barely had time to learn a lot about what the Nets were doing, but getting the encouragement before the game by Nash and James Harden helped the six-foot forward.
“Nash and James [telling me] go out there and play hard and just have fun. Hearing that from these two guys makes you confident to play, ”said Johnson. “It really helped me, it just made me get there and get comfortable.”
Johnson debuted with 23 points and 15 rebounds, with 11 of 15 rebounds. He is only the second Net to score 20 and 15 on his debut, and the first since 1979. It was a great first impression, with the possibility of a second 10-day contract – or more.
“It has been a positive dialogue. A second day of 10 is at stake. We’ll see what happens to the deadline and everything, ”Langberg told The Post. “It was definitely not ruled out for the rest of the season, because they have [an] open duty point. They definitely like his potential, what he brings, his approach, tenacity. “
Harden (neck) is questionable Friday in Detroit. Landry Shamet (right ankle) is out, but Blake Griffin will play.
The Hamidou Diallo and Rodney McGruder pistons have been updated to likely. Dennis Smith Jr. (low back pain) is questionable, while Killian Hayes and Jahlil Okafor are out.