Stanley Johnson Impresses In D-League Game, Then Fires Back At Twitter Haters
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
Second-year Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson is sitting squarely in the middle of a sophomore slump.
The 6-foot-7 Arizona product looked impressive throughout most of his rookie season after the Pistons drafted him eighth overall last year. He even spent some time in the national spotlight after challenging LeBron James during the playoffs.
Things haven't gone quite that well this season.
Johnson has failed to see playing time in four games this season while his minutes per game have nearly been cut in half (12.8). Pistons coach and team president Stan Van Gundy assigned Johnson to the team's Development League affiliate -- the Grand Rapids Drive -- on Saturday night to get Johnson some time on the court.
Johnson responded well, scoring 26 points -- 18 in the first half -- and adding five rebounds and four assists.
It was a good showing for a guy who hasn't seen 20 minutes of floor time at the NBA level since November 23. But that didn't stop the haters from coming out on Twitter.
One Twitter user tweeted "He was a top 10 pick and he sucks!" among other things -- something that Johnson didn't take kindly to.
Hopefully Johnson's short D-League stint will propel him back into Van Gundy's rotation.
