Amir Johnson Biography, Affairs, Relationships And Family Life

Quick Facts

Amir Johnson is a seasoned professional basketball player who has seen 13 seasons and counting in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since his second-round draft in 2005 by the Detroit Pistons. Along with the Pistons, he has previously lined up with the Toronto Raptors, Bolton Celtics and currently plays as a power forward cum center for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Amir Johnson’s Biography

His mother gave birth to him on the Ist day of May 1987 in Los Angeles, California and he was named Amir Jalla Johnson. Johnson was gifted with rare athletic traits both in physique and abilities required for the making of a star. In spite of that, he didn’t find a place in a high school basketball team until his sophomore year.

The 76ers forward may have had a foresight of what the future held for him and probably discovered that a college education wouldn’t be part of it. He got enrolled in various high schools, perhaps, to make up for the time he will miss out on a tertiary education and a college career as well.

He attended Pacific Hills and Narbonne high schools in his freshman year but enrolled at Verbum Dei High School as a sophomore in 2002. In Verbum Dei, he saw action on the court and enjoyed a solid inaugural season of high school basketball. Soon after, he set his sail going and transferred to Westchester High School. He missed out on the games in his junior year as he was forced to sit out but might have as well invested the time in honing his skills and prepping for a great senior season.

In his senior year, he stepped up his game and entrenched his name on the list of Westchester’s standout athletes. He averaged 21 points, 15 rebounds, and eight block shots per game and also led the team to a state title and a top-five national ranking. Amir Johnson, in turn, received several mentions such as being named the 2005 California Mr Basketball, a McDonald’s All-American, Los Angeles’ Player of the Year honours by the Los Angeles Times as well as appeared in the 2005 Boys Game.

Amir Johnson made his mark on the basketball team, thus, he was projected to be a top recruit. He was considered a four-star recruit and was listed as the No. 7 power forward and the No. 29 player in the nation in 2005. Consequently, he became a sought-after player. He committed to play for the University of Louisville but had a change of mind and decided instead to forgo college to go after his athletic dreams.

NBA Career

He declared for the 2005 NBA draft out of high school and was eventually selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round with the 56th overall pick. With his selection, he remains the last draftee to be selected out of high school. Through the 4 seasons he would play for the Pistons, he was assigned to two NBA Development Leagues – Fayetteville Patriots and Sioux Falls Skyforce. That notwithstanding, he re-signed with the Pistons to a three-year, $12 million contract in July 2007 and went on to become a valuable asset off the bench.

Johnson was traded to the Toronto Raptors on August 18, 2009, but re-signed with them on July 8, 2010, to a five-year, $34 million contract. With the Raptors, he had a massive career and also rose in dominance and overall production. He also recorded a career-best season in 2012-2013 where he averaged 10 points per game and scored a career-high 32 points in a 106–94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 8, 2013.

Over time, Johnson became a hybrid on the basketball court. He does a bit of everything and is acclaimed for his culture of teamwork and respect. With such resume, he can fit into any team and as such, the Boston Celtics signed him to a two-year deal worth $24 million in July 2015. From 2015 to 2017 that he pitched his tent with the team, he played in 159 games and posted a career-high four three-pointers in a 107–100 win over the Chicago Bulls on November 2, 2016.

After 12 NBA seasons with loads of experience and solid play around the hoop, the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers after he signed a one-year deal with them on July 8, 2017. During the 2018 NBA Awards, he became the recipient of the NBA Hustle Award on June 25, 2018. One year after he signed with the 76ers, Amir Johnson re-signed with the team.

Family Life, Affairs, Relationships

Amir was born to Anthony Johnson and Deneen Griffin. He was raised alongside his sister, Indi who is also athletically inclined and played collegiate basketball for Southern University’s women’s basketball team. The duo is however not the only athletes in the family. Their cousins, Kevin and Kaelin Burnett, both played linebacker in the NFL.

Athletes are not alien to affairs and sometimes, multiple dating relationships. While Amir Johnson may not have gained a reputation as a double-dater like Lou Williams and , he has had his fair share of affairs.

He dated model Alana Jung who gave birth to his daughter Amelia in September 2013. Although he asserted what they had, a nearly 2 years affair to only be a casual sexual relationship, Jung reckons they had something more during her court battle for child support increment in 2015.

The veteran basketball player is currently dating Daria Marie Mitchell.

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