The Taipei Fubon Braves, the reigning champions of Taiwan’s P. LEAGUE+ professional basketball league, announced the signing of ex-NBA power forward Chris Johnson on a one-year deal Monday.
The 2.11-meter-tall Washington D.C. native boasts an impressive 13-year playing resume including stints with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves between 2009-2013, the Braves said in a statement.
Johnson has also played in the Chinese Professional Basketball League (CBA) for the Zhejiang Lions in the 2013-2014 season, posting an average of 20.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and two blocks per game, as well as winning the league’s slam dunk contest.
More recently, Johnson played for the semi-professional Auckland Tuatara in New Zealand where he tallied an average of 20.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.4 blocks, shooting 52.4 percent from the floor, including 36.2 percent from the arc during the 2021-2022 season, the Braves said.
Johnson is expected to arrive in Taiwan in September, according to the Braves.
Braves head coach Roger Hsu (???) said Johnson’s defensive play and experience would be highly valued as the the club eyes its third P. LEAGUE+ championship title next season.
“I hope we can take advantage of his experience playing in professional leagues in various countries,” Hsu said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel