SJ Sports: Summer Hoops--Pt. 2

Nate Johnson knows the odds may not be good, but he wasn't deterred. Johnson wanted to make a major impression during his week competing for the San Antonio Spurs entry in the Reebok Pro Summer League in Boston.

Johnson is a product of tradition-rich Camden, where he was the consensus South Jersey player of the year his senior season in 1996. He then went to Louisville and became a four-year starter. Johnson was not selected in the NBA draft, but went to the Los Angeles Lakers camp and was a late cut.

Last season he competed with the 76ers summer league team in Boston and averaged a modest nine points in four games.

This summer the 6-foot-5 Johnson hooked on with the NBA champion Spurs and he looked like a different player. Johnson was aggressive going to the basket. Last summer he appeared tentative, but that wasn't the case.

While statistics are misleading in the summer, Johnson still put up some impressive ones. He averaged 13.3 points and was the second leading scorer for a Spurs team that went 6-0 and won the summer title.

"I was more confident here this summer," Johnson said. "I saw what it was like last year and I was determined to take up my game this year." Johnson played this past season in the National Basketball Developmental League (NBDL). It was his second year playing for the Columbus Riverdragons. The NBDL is a training league for NBA hopefuls. Make no mistake about it, Johnson is hoping to play in the NBA.

Last season he didn't have a realistic chance of sticking with the 76ers. His game wasn't as refined. In that year, Johnson worked on his ballhandling, shooting and his defense. Johnson returned to his second NBDL season with Columbus, intent on improving all aspects of his game. His determination paid off. After averaging 13.7 points in 2001-2002, Johnson averaged a league-leading 19.5 points in only 31.2 minutes this past season for Columbus. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Johnson shot 46 percent from the field and 74.3 percent from the foul line. His percentage was 31 percent from three-point range.

"I wanted to take my game up a level and knew if I worked hard I could and I think I accomplished it this past season," Johnson said.

Now comes the difficult part. He will first have to earn an invitation to the Spurs camp in October and then work on making the team. Even though the Spurs are the defending NBA champions, a number of players are expected to leave via free agency, so there will be chances to make the roster.

"I had a great opportunity playing this summer with San Antonio," he said. "I felt good playing in the summer league and I hope it leads to something."

Whether he makes the Spurs team or not, Johnson remains undaunted and is willing to continue chasing his dream of making an NBA roster. "Over the past year I feel I have improved and that has helped my confidence," he said. "I feel that I can play in the NBA and now I hope to get the chance to prove myself."

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Author: Marc Narducci