With a nickname like "Iso Joe", he is tailor made for 3 on 3 basketball.
Joe Johnson, who played 17 NBA seasons from 2001-2018, is playing in his first season in the Big 3. At his peak in the NBA, he was a 25 point per game scorer, and he made 7 All-Star games. And he, so far, is lighting this league on fire.
Through the first 4 weeks of the season, he has his Triplets team unbeaten, and is averaging 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. His point and assist averages lead the league, and he has clearly established himself as the best player in the league to this point.
Listed at 6'7 and 240 pounds, his size and strength works to his advantage, and his effortless scoring ability has been on display in the form of three game winners and scoring barrages. He had 14 second half points this past week that included a game winning 4 point shot, a 17 point second half in week 1, and 24 second half points in week 3.
When the Triplets need a bucket, Johnson is their go to guy. He posts up smaller defenders, and gets to his spots easily when guarded by similar sized ones. Isolation play is much more frequent in 3 on 3 basketball than in a 5 on 5 setting because of the floor spacing, and Johnson, who excelled at it during his NBA career, achieves even more success with it in the Big 3. His individual moves and smooth release make him an extremely tough cover, and he can seemingly get a bucket whenever he wants.
The Triplets have the league's best record thus far, and look like the title favorites. They have a strong roster - with shooters Jannero Pargo and Alan Anderson flanking Johnson, and big man Al Jefferson in the middle - and a rookie coach in Lisa Leslie who makes good in-game adjustments and prepares extensively. Chris Johnson, their other big, is an athletic one who provides shot blocking and works well in the screen and roll.
Johnson, though, is their catalyst. And if things continue the rest of the season the way they have begun, he will be a no brainer for the league's Most Valuable Player Award.
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