Inside The Nets

Cam Johnson is Glad to be Back and Healthy

After seven games on the sideline, Cameron Johnson is glad to be healthy again.

Peter Sunjic

© Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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Ahead of the 2023/24 season kickoff, Cameron Johnson faced early setbacks with a lower-body injury, grappling with a strained hamstring. Unfortunately, in the season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he encountered yet another injury, this time affecting his calf.

Cam made his return to the Brooklyn Nets roster in the In-Season Tournament game against the Boston Celtics. He scored 11 points in his 25 minutes and was immediately part of the starting lineup. 

“Something you learn to not take for granted. Win, loss, draw, ups and downs. Learn not to take opportunities you have for granted, games that you have for granted, they’re finite. From that perspective, it was good to be back out there,” Cam Johnson said in his post-game presser.

Cam looked a bit rusty

Johnson's time away from NBA games left him a bit rusty in the match. Despite taking 13 shot attempts, he only converted four, but his prowess beyond the arc shone through, making three of his six three-point attempts.

As the Nets continue with the small-ball lineup, featuring Dorian Finney-Smith as the starting center, Johnson is adapting and establishing solid chemistry with the team. His usual frontcourt partner, Nic Claxton, remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

Johnson will be a good piece for the Nets’ spacing as he showcased his accuracy from deep in this game. Claxton will function as the defensive star for Brooklyn in the paint while Ben Simmons handles the point-of-attack defense alongside Mikal Bridges.

The Nets need to get healthier to perform better

Johnson is the latest player to come back from the injury report. They will have to get their full squad back because they are in a competitive Eastern Conference. Cameron Thomas will miss at least the next two weeks with an ankle injury while Claxton will most likely be out until December.

Simmons has also struggled with a hip issue that left him out of the Celtics game. They need to be fully healthy to compete with the rest of the East, they have also made sure to show some flashes of brilliance in the games they’ve had those players. With Johnson back, one piece of the puzzle has returned.

A depleted Brooklyn Nets team lost to the Boston Celtics 107-121

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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