WHETHER it is for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL) or for the Forestville Eagles in the NBL1, big man Daniel Johnson appears to have a significant impact wherever he goes. On the weekend, he suited up for the Eagles in their Round 6 matchup against the Eastern Mavericks. The Mavericks have started the season in extremely underwhelming fashion, so Forestville was expected to claim the chocolates here.

They managed to do just that, but by a significant margin, piling on the pain for a struggling Mavericks side. There were a fair few contributors for the winning side, but the one who caught the eye was Johnson, who absolutely stuffed the statline, and showed why many considered him to be a class above in the 37-point win. The win keeps the Eagles in second spot behind the ladder-leading Rockets, while the Mavericks remain winless at the bottom of the standings.

Eastern Mavericks (84) def. by Forestville Eagles (121)

Daniel Johnson – 21 points, 20 rebounds (seven offensive), seven assists

Sure there might have been higher scorers in the game (such as Maverick James Legan, who delivered a game-high 32 points), but no player was more impactful than Johnson. While he was not as efficient as others, making only five of his 16 attempts from the field, but showed his smarts and was able to get to the free throw line more than anyone else. He drained nine of his 11 attempts from here, as his points total continued to tick over. It was a pattern that we saw plenty of times for the 36ers, and it continued at St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre. He was able to produce a few buckets in varying fashion, whether it was cutting to the hoop for the lay-up or executing the pick and pop perfectly to drain a three, Johnson was popping up everywhere.

Scoring was not the only way the big man impacted the game, using his aerial ability and strength to pull down a game-high 20 rebounds. Seven of these were on the offensive end, generating plenty more possessions for the Eagles, which was reflected on the scoreboard. The Mavericks’ big men could not box him out, as Johnson flew and claimed a heap of boards. His passing was also a highlight, showing his veteran experience and making the right play on a number of occasions. He poured in an impressive seven dimes, which showcased how versatile he has been as a player.

It was one of the most dominant individual showings we have seen all year across any league, but given Johnson’s skillset and resume, it was not too surprising. The Eagles will be thankful for his services throughout season 2022, and if he can deliver more showings such as the one we saw in Round 6, they will be a tough side to stop.