Chansky's Notebook: Worth The Wait

Brice Johnson had to wait out the foreign legion.

It all wound up well for Carolina’s Brice Johnson, who was selected – finally – as the 25th pick in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Johnson gets to play with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, coached by Doc Rivers and maybe even live with Brandon Ingram, who was the No. 2 pick by the Lakers, who share the Staples Center with the Clippers. After all, the Tar Heel and Dukie will be like ships passing at night; when one LA team is home, the other’s away.

But it was an agonizing wait for Johnson and all of his fans because when has a consensus first team All-American ever gone that late in the draft? If you know, tweet it. A guy who spent four years in the toughest college basketball league in the world and was arguably the most versatile player in the ACC had to watch guys go named Papagiannis, Hernangomez, Yabusele, Ante Zizic and Timothé Lawawu from Greece, Spain, France and Croatia before him. I’m sure they’re all talented comers, but Brice blocks shots, makes NBA jumpers look easy and is a real crowd pleaser when he dunks and screams. Can’t believe Jordan and the Hornets passed on Brice and the extra tickets he could sell for Malachi Richardson, a freshman from Syracuse who can’t hold Johnson’s jock strap.

Johnson has lived by the adage that good things come to those who wait. He waited before quitting school and going home his shocking freshman year; waited while he learned to play good enough defense for Roy Williams; and waited his turn to become the next player to have his jersey hoisted into the rafters of the Smith Center. He won’t make as much guaranteed money as his supposed roomie, but Ingram can pay the rent and buy all the groceries.

Brice becomes the 47th Tar Heel to be drafted in the first round and the 16th under Williams. He will have to win playing time at training camp but seems like a good high-low post partner for Griffin and someone who Paul can get the ball to in a range of scoring positions. Mostly, he’s seen his dream come true. And despite the wait, it couldn’t have happened to a better guy.

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Chansky’s Notebook: Worth The Wait

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