LAS VEGAS — The Twins have been separated.
Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges have been so shut — first in Phoenix after which Brooklyn — that they earned the nickname The Twins.
Johnson has performed 5 seasons within the NBA.
He’s appeared in 283 video games, and 38 extra within the playoffs.
By no means as soon as has he finished so with out Bridges.
That’s about to alter after the Nets traded Bridges to the rival Knicks final month in a transfer that shocked the league — Johnson included.
“I bought an ESPN alert. I most likely realized after the commerce, I used to be most likely one of many final to know. ESPN alert, that’s how I came upon,” mentioned Johnson, who admits it’s going to be bizarre to go well with up with out Bridges for the primary time since school.
“I assume, as a result of I’ve performed each recreation with him. However he’ll be good; I’ll be good. I’m trying ahead to enjoying in opposition to him.
“You’ve simply bought to know that this can be a enterprise, and groups are gonna do what’s of their greatest curiosity, and gamers will do what’s of their greatest curiosity. And our relationship goes past basketball. It goes past a crew. That’s my brother for all times, and I want him the very best. That’s all it comes right down to — besides when he performs us.”
Johnson was attending Brooklyn’s Las Vegas Summer time League tilt in opposition to the Clippers on Sunday at Thomas & Mack Area.
Bridges had truly sat courtside for the Nets’ opener two days earlier.
The Bridges commerce — primarily for 5 first-round picks and a decide swap — signaled Brooklyn pivoting from attempting to compete to diving headlong right into a rebuild.
Johnson remains to be speaking with Brooklyn common supervisor Sean Marks and new head coach Jordi Fernandez, attempting to hash out precisely the place he matches in all this.
“Nonetheless attempting to determine it out,” Johnson mentioned. “Nonetheless attempting to determine it out.”
Johnson — only one 12 months right into a four-year, $94 million deal — is among the few veterans left, together with Dorian Finney-Smith.
As such, his title has been linked in varied commerce rumors.
Though Johnson’s season left one thing to be desired — 13.4 factors on .391 capturing from deep, restricted to 58 video games attributable to damage — his size and 3-point vary make the ahead a invaluable commodity.
in Phoenix earlier than the pair was traded to Brooklyn. NBAE through Getty Photos
“I’m on the Brooklyn Nets proper now,” Johnson mentioned. “Dorian’s on the Brooklyn Nets proper now. [Cam Thomas], [Trendon] Watford, we’re Nets proper now, in order that’s what we’re centered on is that group. And if one thing occurs, then one thing occurs. However that’s how we hold the principle factor the principle factor.
“There’s loads to work on within the meantime, loads of issues to concentrate on. So I’m having conversations with Jordi and them as if I’m absolutely one hundred pc on the crew right through. That’s the place I need to be proper now, and I’m cool with that.”
For Johnson’s half, he insists going by means of an offseason full of uncertainty hasn’t weighed on him.
“It doesn’t,” Johnson mentioned. “I simply figured I’ve sufficient to fret about on my finish in attempting to simply be engaged on myself, engaged on my physique, engaged on my recreation. Simply taking that point within the offseason to get my psychological proper for an additional season; after which I’ll simply let no matter occurs, occurs.
“I feel we’ve a reasonably good group in Brooklyn that we will actually begin to develop one thing. We’ve bought a number of expertise within the constructing. Watching these guys in Jalen [Wilson], Noah [Clowney], Dariq [Whitehead], they’re getting higher and higher every single day. I labored out with Wat, CT, so we’ve items. If I’m staying in Brooklyn, then I’m all-in, excited to play, excited to develop this group, and that’s the place my head’s at proper now.”
