NBL 2023: SEM Phoenix big man Daniel Johnson on Adelaide return, failed Qatar move

Daniel Johnson’s first job after his Adelaide split didn’t quite work out how he hoped, the big man revealing his horror stories from a failed stint in Qatar ahead of his 36ers return.

Daniel Johnson never gives too much away when he speaks to journalists, so when he tells you his time in Adelaide “didn’t end 100 per cent the way I wanted it to”, you know there was some level of frustration and probably some hurt.

Time heals all wounds and six months after a hard call was made on the 13-season Adelaide great, Johnson says he has made his peace – and the club is planning to retire his No.21 jersey, alongside Darryl Pearce’s No.4, Brett Maher’s No.5, Al Green’s No.15 and Mark Davis’s No.33.

“I learned a long time ago it’s a business,” Johnson said. “I’m past it now and you remember the good times more than the bad.

“I have so many friends in Adelaide, my family is still there and I’ve been around the place for so long that a lot of the guys are really good mates of mine.”

In happier times … Daniel Johnson before his split with the 36ers. Picture: Getty Images

The 35-year-old, who was signed as an injury replacement by South East Melbourne, might only play two games for the Phoenix, depending on Gorjok Gak’s recovery from a calf injury.

As they say, though, what can happen, will happen and one of those will be against his former club on Friday night at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

It will be a “bit strange” lining up in opposing colours because the Western Australia native played 366 games in a Sixers jersey from 2010-23 and averaged an elite 15.9 points, seven rebounds, 1.8 assists and shot 35 per cent from deep.

“That’s the way it works out but I’m looking forward to going back,” he laughed when recognising a little irony.

“It’ll be strange, I’m sure. Very different being on the other team.”

Perhaps not as strange as his hunt for a new hoops home for the first time in more than a decade.

The father of two signed a “pretty vague” contract with Qatar club Al Sadd and hopped on a plane to the Middle East.

It didn’t take long for alarm bells to ring.

Mitch Creek and Daniel Johnson were teammates at Adelaide, reunited at South East Melbourne. Picture: Kadek Thatcher

“From all reports it’s one of the better clubs there but we tried to get a more detailed contract and they were just like ‘this is the way contracts work over here’,” he said.

“The biggest thing for me was I just needed accommodation where I could bring my family and we can all be set up – just a two-bedroom apartment, pretty basic, nothing crazy.

“I was just thrown in with the other import in a dodgy apartment from the start and it didn’t change.

“There was other really basic stuff and I was like ‘if it’s this hard just getting accommodation right, imagine getting paid?’

“There’s probably a reason why the contracts were so vague – it was a bit of a stitch up.”

Johnson lasted no more than a week in his Qatari experiment. Picture: Kadek Thatcher

So it was back on a plane after a week, back home to Adelaide and back to the drawing board.

The 212cm offensive beast has been among basketball’s most durable players. He has missed just three games in 16 NBL seasons.

It’s why he believes he still has plenty left in the tank and plans to continue playing for as long as he can still get up and down the floor, although the uncertainty has forced him to think about what life might look like without basketball.

Daniel Johnson is still on the hunt for a permanent job. Picture: Getty Images

He’s using his Phoenix stint as an audition – for South East Melbourne or another club – to prove he’s still in shape and able to contribute.

“This year has been weird,’’ he said.

“Whenever I make a plan, it doesn’t really work out, so I’m just going with the flow and hoping something comes up.

“I’m just open to anything. My agent is talking to teams overseas and we’ve had a few conversations.

“I’ve shown now I’m in shape and I’m grateful for the opportunity at the Phoenix.”

Adelaide is planning to recognise Johnson before the game and while he laughs when a “DJ bay” of supporters at AEC is suggested, Sixers veteran — and good mate Mitch McCarron — said the loyal servant can expect a warm welcome — so long as he doesn’t wear it out with a classic DJ 20-10 double-double he has produced so many times in Sixers colours.

“I’m happy for him, he gets to keep playing the game he loves, I’m sure the crowd will recognise him and everything he’s done for this club and he deserves that but, at the end of the day, we’re trying to get the win,” McCarron said.

“We’re really good mates, so we’ve stayed in touch a lot.

“I’m sure he’ll set a really good screen on me and then it’ll go from there.”

*Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix, Friday, 7.30pm, Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Watch on Kayo Sports and ESPN on Foxtel.

Originally published as NBL 2023: SEM Phoenix big man Daniel Johnson on Adelaide return, failed Qatar move