LAS VEGAS — The Twins have been separated.
Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges have been so close — first in Phoenix after which Brooklyn — that they earned the nickname The Twins.
Johnson has played five seasons within the NBA.
He’s appeared in 283 games, and 38 more within the playoffs.
Never once has he done so without Bridges.
That’s about to vary after the Nets traded Bridges to the rival Knicks last month in a move that shocked the league — Johnson included.
“I got an ESPN alert. I probably learned after the trade, I used to be probably certainly one of the last to know. ESPN alert, that’s how I discovered,” said Johnson, who admits it’s going to be weird to suit up without Bridges for the primary time since college.
“I suppose, because I’ve played every game with him. But he’ll be good; I’ll be good. I’m looking forward to playing against him.
“You’ve just got to grasp that this can be a business, and teams are gonna do what’s of their best interest, and players will do what’s of their best interest. And our relationship goes beyond basketball. It goes beyond a team. That’s my brother for all times, and I wish him the most effective. That’s all it comes right down to — except when he plays us.”
Johnson was attending Brooklyn’s Las Vegas Summer League tilt against the Clippers on Sunday at Thomas & Mack Arena.
Bridges had actually sat courtside for the Nets’ opener two days earlier.
The Bridges trade — primarily for five first-round picks and a pick swap — signaled Brooklyn pivoting from attempting to compete to diving headlong right into a rebuild.
Johnson remains to be talking with Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks and recent head coach Jordi Fernandez, attempting to hash out exactly where he suits in all this.
“Still attempting to figure it out,” Johnson said. “Still attempting to figure it out.”
Johnson — only one yr right into a four-year, $94 million deal — is certainly one of the few veterans left, together with Dorian Finney-Smith.
As such, his name has been linked in various trade rumors.
Although Johnson’s season left something to be desired — 13.4 points on .391 shooting from deep, limited to 58 games as a result of injury — his length and 3-point range make the forward a priceless commodity.
in Phoenix before the pair was traded to Brooklyn. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m on the Brooklyn Nets right away,” Johnson said. “Dorian’s on the Brooklyn Nets right away. [Cam Thomas], [Trendon] Watford, we’re Nets right away, in order that’s what we’re focused on is that group. And if something happens, then something happens. But that’s how we keep the essential thing the essential thing.
“There’s plenty to work on within the meantime, loads of things to give attention to. So I’m having conversations with Jordi and them as if I’m fully one hundred pc on the team right through. That’s where I would like to be right away, and I’m cool with that.”
For Johnson’s part, he insists going through an offseason crammed with uncertainty hasn’t weighed on him.
“It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “I just figured I actually have enough to fret about on my end in trying to simply be working on myself, working on my body, working on my game. Just taking that point within the offseason to get my mental right for an additional season; after which I’ll just let whatever happens, happens.
“I feel we’ve a reasonably good group in Brooklyn that we will really begin to grow something. We’ve got numerous talent within the constructing. Watching these guys in Jalen [Wilson], Noah [Clowney], Dariq [Whitehead], they’re improving and higher every single day. I worked out with Wat, CT, so we’ve pieces. If I’m staying in Brooklyn, then I’m all-in, excited to play, excited to grow this group, and that’s where my head’s at right away.”
LAS VEGAS — The Twins have been separated.
Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges have been so close — first in Phoenix after which Brooklyn — that they earned the nickname The Twins.
Johnson has played five seasons within the NBA.
He’s appeared in 283 games, and 38 more within the playoffs.
Never once has he done so without Bridges.
That’s about to vary after the Nets traded Bridges to the rival Knicks last month in a move that shocked the league — Johnson included.
“I got an ESPN alert. I probably learned after the trade, I used to be probably certainly one of the last to know. ESPN alert, that’s how I discovered,” said Johnson, who admits it’s going to be weird to suit up without Bridges for the primary time since college.
“I suppose, because I’ve played every game with him. But he’ll be good; I’ll be good. I’m looking forward to playing against him.
“You’ve just got to grasp that this can be a business, and teams are gonna do what’s of their best interest, and players will do what’s of their best interest. And our relationship goes beyond basketball. It goes beyond a team. That’s my brother for all times, and I wish him the most effective. That’s all it comes right down to — except when he plays us.”
Johnson was attending Brooklyn’s Las Vegas Summer League tilt against the Clippers on Sunday at Thomas & Mack Arena.
Bridges had actually sat courtside for the Nets’ opener two days earlier.
The Bridges trade — primarily for five first-round picks and a pick swap — signaled Brooklyn pivoting from attempting to compete to diving headlong right into a rebuild.
Johnson remains to be talking with Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks and recent head coach Jordi Fernandez, attempting to hash out exactly where he suits in all this.
“Still attempting to figure it out,” Johnson said. “Still attempting to figure it out.”
Johnson — only one yr right into a four-year, $94 million deal — is certainly one of the few veterans left, together with Dorian Finney-Smith.
As such, his name has been linked in various trade rumors.
Although Johnson’s season left something to be desired — 13.4 points on .391 shooting from deep, limited to 58 games as a result of injury — his length and 3-point range make the forward a priceless commodity.
in Phoenix before the pair was traded to Brooklyn. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m on the Brooklyn Nets right away,” Johnson said. “Dorian’s on the Brooklyn Nets right away. [Cam Thomas], [Trendon] Watford, we’re Nets right away, in order that’s what we’re focused on is that group. And if something happens, then something happens. But that’s how we keep the essential thing the essential thing.
“There’s plenty to work on within the meantime, loads of things to give attention to. So I’m having conversations with Jordi and them as if I’m fully one hundred pc on the team right through. That’s where I would like to be right away, and I’m cool with that.”
For Johnson’s part, he insists going through an offseason crammed with uncertainty hasn’t weighed on him.
“It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “I just figured I actually have enough to fret about on my end in trying to simply be working on myself, working on my body, working on my game. Just taking that point within the offseason to get my mental right for an additional season; after which I’ll just let whatever happens, happens.
“I feel we’ve a reasonably good group in Brooklyn that we will really begin to grow something. We’ve got numerous talent within the constructing. Watching these guys in Jalen [Wilson], Noah [Clowney], Dariq [Whitehead], they’re improving and higher every single day. I worked out with Wat, CT, so we’ve pieces. If I’m staying in Brooklyn, then I’m all-in, excited to play, excited to grow this group, and that’s where my head’s at right away.”
