It’s been just over a decade since Stanley Johnson announced on ESPN he would be playing for Arizona by holding up a pair of custom red, white and blue sneakers. And on Independence Day in America, Johnson found himself a new home overseas.
Johnson has signed to play the 2024-25 season with Andalous Efes, a pro club in the Turkish Basketball Super League.
The 28-year-old Johnson heads to Istanbul after spending the past nine years playing in the US, including eight in the NBA. He was the 8th overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Detroit Pistons, where he played his first 3 ½ seasons before getting traded to New Orleans in 2019. After that he spent time with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, playing this past season for the Sacramento Kings’ G-League team in Stockton, Calif.
With the UA in 2014-15 Johnson averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds on a team that would reach the Elite Eight, the program’s last appearance in that round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s earned more than $25 million in his pro career.
Andalou went 25-5 in the BSL in 2023-24, tying for first place before losing in the league finals to Fenerbahce Beko. They also went 17-17 in the EuroLeague, getting eliminated in the play-in round of the playoffs.
Johnson will be joining an Andalou roster that includes former NBA players Shane Larkin and Daniel Oturu.
