The Miami Heat once gave $50 million to a former undrafted free agent that nobody believed in. After an eight-year NBA career, that contract recipient is now embarking on the next chapter of his basketball journey. That individual is Tyler Johnson, a standout lefty guard. He was recently announced as a new assistant coach for the Fresno State men’s basketball team, the same team he played for in college.
Johnson hasn’t officially declared retirement from professional basketball, but it’s evident that coaching is his next move in the world of hoops. His last stint in the NBA was during the 2021-22 season with the Spurs and 76ers, and he has since been playing overseas. Throughout his NBA career, Johnson had stops with Miami, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and San Antonio. In 2017, during his time with the Heat, he put up impressive numbers to secure a contract extension, averaging 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc.
“I’m pretty stoked to be back in the Valley,” Johnson mentioned in a statement regarding his return to Fresno State. “I’m eager to contribute to the growth of this program.” Seeing one of their own achieve success in the league should serve as motivation for the players at Fresno State. Perhaps Johnson’s presence will inspire the next success story to emerge from the program, propelling them to greater heights.
