It has been seven years since the last NBA first round draftee had struted his wares in the local pro league. Dickey Simpkins suited up for the Alaska Aces during the 2005 PBA Fiesta conference. The coming Commissioner’s Cup will have DerMarr Johnson, who was the 6th picked over-all in the 2000 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, playing for the Barako Bull squad. The 6-9 Johnson is a seven-year NBA veteran who suited up for the Hawks, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs from 2000 to 2008. He had career averages of 6.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg in 344 total games. Before joining the NBA, the District of Columbia native played a year of college ball for the University of Cincinnati, where he posted norms of 12.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 32 outings. Johnson almost played for coach Tim Cone and the Aces in 2004 after his Knicks stint but was later signed by the Nuggets. After his NBA career, the wiry 31 year-old forward began toiling in various pro leagues worldwide. Johnson had quite a journey in his life and basketball played a vital role in his transformation, according to an article written by Mark Grey of the Player’s Voice. Grey even mentioned how he outplayed and defended Kobe Bryant very well during one of his NBA games.
“Since being drafted, Johnson has seen his share of highs and lows, but good luck getting him to talk about either. Not known as a person who talks much, getting Johnson to talk about himself is like pulling teeth. However, sitting in his basement, the tales of his journey are all over. He will never tell you that he has made over 10 million dollars in his career, but the six figure watch on his wrist as well as the Mercedes and Porsche in the driveway let you know he has done all right for himself. If you ask him about the picture that hangs on his wall of him guarding Kobe Bryant, he simply replies, “Kobe is the best player on the planet.” What he won’t tell you is that in that game, he used his 7 foot wingspan to harass Bryant all night, forcing him to turn the ball over 6 times, or that he outscored him in the game. He never brings up the fact that he broke his neck but you can still see the two scars over his eyebrows where they drilled the holes in his head. DerMarr rarely ever talks about his father who passed away after years of drug abuse, but the tattoo of his father’s face on his arm lets you know that he meant a lot to him. Johnson would never call himself a scholar, but challenge him to a game of Scrabble (which is already out and ready to go at all times) and you will think otherwise. About the only thing you will ever hear Johnson boast about is his Domino championship belt he plays his friends for.”
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