NBL start ‘just the beginning’ for Brisbane Bullet Matt Johns

Geelong-raised big man Matt Johns is soaking up as many lessons as he can as he works for minutes in his first NBL season.

Matt Johns has grabbed his chance with NBL club Brisbane Bullets.

A first season in the NBL is “just the beginning” for Geelong-bred big man Matt Johns as he hunts more minutes with the Brisbane Bullets.

Raised in Waurn Ponds, Johns had long dreamt of cracking the NBL, having split his time in the US College system with South Dakota and Concordia, St Paul before returning to the Geelong Supercats for the most recent NBL1 season.

Johns at the line for Geelong Supercats. Picture: Jacqui Neill

When a spot opened up with the Bullets, the 23-year-old was thrown in the deep end for a week-long camp, where he impressed the club’s brass enough to be signed as a development player.

The 203cm forward/center has appeared in seven games so far this NBL season, subbed in for spot minutes as he soaks up knowledge from ex-NBA vets Aron Baynes and Tyler Johnson.

He was thrown in the fray late in Thursday’s loss to Cairns, with Johns netting the first field goal of his NBL career on a glorious alley-oop slam.

Aron Baynes has been a help for Johns. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

While riding the bench hasn’t come naturally for Johns, he has grabbed his professional chance with both hands.

“It definitely had been the plan to play NBL but when I looked around and saw some of the guys I watched growing up and even guys like Baynsey and TJ, who have played in the NBA for so long, now I get to go up against them it is pretty surreal,” he said.

“It just shows how much work I have put in through juniors and college.

“Obviously this is in a sense just the beginning as well. Yes, I’m in the NBL as a DP (development player) but I have a lot more years to come and hopefully I get that roster position within a year or two.”

A natural glue guy, Johns has had no issues playing a team game when he has played his minutes.

While some players stuck on the bench come into the game with all eyes on the rim, hoping to make a bunch of shots to stay on court, Johns happily does what the team requires.

“I’ve been able to score a fair bit (in my career) but it’s never been my No.1 strength,” he said.

“I have always been a great passer and defender, so it’s easy for me to not focus on that. If it comes, it comes, but I know there are more things to the game than just putting the ball in the hole.”

Originally published as NBL start ‘just the beginning’ for Brisbane Bullet Matt Johns