Reviewing Tyler Johnson’s Heat Career Over a Calender Year

On August 7th, 2014, an un-drafted shooting guard out of Fresno State named Tyler Johnson signed with the Miami Heat on a deal that would give him the chance to make the team, or be cut.

Four days prior to the start of the 2014-2015, the Heat waived Johnson. Luckily for the Heat, they were able to get Johnson on their team in the NBA’s Development League, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

In 15 games for the Skyforce, Johnson impressed very well. He averaged 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 49% from the field and 42% from three-point land. Overall, Johnson shot 51% on strictly two-point shots.

With the Heat having a number of injuries and a sub-500 record of 16-21 after their January 11th win over the Clippers, the Heat signed Johnson to a ten-day contract on the 13th of January.

Johnson saw just two minutes of action over the course of his first ten-day deal with the Heat, but he was still able to land a second ten-day contract on January 29th. What Johnson would do over the Heat’s five games would decide his NBA future.

The game that put the icing on the cake was Johnson’s 18 point performance versus the Spurs in just 25 minutes of work on February 6th. He was an efficient 7-10 from the field, not missing any of his two three’s he attempted. Two days after that game, Johnson was signed for the remainder of the season, and the 2015-2016 season. So far this year, he is continuing to be a big spark plug off the bench for the Heat.

In 2015-2016, Johnson is averaging 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in an average of 22 minutes a night. Per 36 minutes, Johnson is averaging 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, seeing increased work at point guard.

When he is on the court, Johnson is at point guard 38% of the time, and 62% of the time he is at shooting guard, per Basketball Reference. He has taken the leap to a athletic combo guard for the Heat this year. Johnson is not afraid to make the hard-nose play the Heat need at times, and you can see it by just looking at his and ones this year. While he has played more minutes already in 2015-2016 that he ever did in 2014-2015, Johnson has 11 and-ones this year, compared to just one last year.

It’s without doubt that Johnson is the best shooter on the Heat as well. He is shooting 60% on three’s from the corner, and 39% overall from three this year. He is looking to get to 50% on the year. His defense is also big for Miami.