Miami Heats James Johnson (16) moves the ball down the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Sunday, March 19, 2017, in Miami. The Trail Blazers won 115-104. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
James Johnson has been a revelation for the Heat this season.
The 30-year-old is having a career year in his first season with the Heat, averaging 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists off the bench. A lot of that success has to do with the shape Johnson is in, as hes cut 37 pounds and 7.75 percent body fat since joining Miami as a free agent this past summer.
We wrote about Johnsons weight-loss success story earlier this month. You can find it here
But we couldnt use every piece of information that came from our interview with Johnson in that story. So we decided to provide the full interview with Johnson for this weeks Q&A.
Enjoy.
Q: Can you really roundhouse kick a ball thats stuck between the backboard and the rim?
James: Thats a fact.
Q: When was the last time you did it?
James: The summer before last season.
Q: So the last time you did it, you were with Toronto?
James: And I was heavier. I still have everything I can do. Its not like I lost anything. If anything, Ive gained [more ability]. I lost weight. Im stronger, more flexible. I might be able to get it easier now.
Q: How old were you when you realized you could do this?
James: Probably like 15, 16. Thats when I first knew I could do it. Then it was just something I could always do.
Q: I heard you can also do a forward-flip running forward and a back-flip from a standing position
James: Yeah. Thats easy. Theyve all seen me do a back-flip.
Q: Can anybody else on the team pull this off?
James: Im not sure. Its not that hard, though. Im not sure if Im the only one.
Q: So we saw your before-and-after photo showing your weight loss
James: One of my most happiest moments.
Q: When the Heat starting doing all of their tests on you and told you to take off your shirt for the before photo, had you ever done that?
James: Never. I never did a before-and-after. But before that picture it was a mix of a whole bunch of other stuff we had to do first that had nothing to do with weights. So, we didnt lift or anything before that. Then we got in there and they told me I had to take off my shirt. We had to take a before picture. It was weird to me. It was really weird to me. I thought I was going to be the only one because I came in something huge. I thought they were going to show me progress or what I dont want to get back to. But, then I ran through their iPad magazine. It was like a magazine, their iPad, their own accomplishments with other players and I saw it with my own eyes. And from when I saw that iPad on I wanted to change myself.
Q: Who was the one player on the Heats iPad that blew you away?
James: There were a ton. There was a lot, all the previous players. But I think the guy who stood out to me was Joe Johnson. Thats because he came in with the Miami Heat so late and was still able to change his body like that. It has a lot to do with the player, but all the compliments and all the rewards should go to the Forans.
Q: What was your body fat when you took that before photo?
James: I think it was 14.5 percent body fat.
Q: How about when you took the after photo?
James: Im 6.75 percent body fat right now.
Q: Is this the best shape youve ever been in?
James: Ever. And Im not finished. Im 238 [pounds] right now and 6.75 [percent body fat]. So, Im just going to keep going, see how far it takes me. I feel like the more I lose, the more I unleash skills that I didnt think I was capable of having or doing.
Q: How much weight have you lost?
James: From 275 to 238.
Q: Where does the weight loss help you the most?
James: Its just all-around. If youve seen the before and afters, I know they only show you the front part, but my back, they take the before and after, and my back has completely transformed all the way slim. Just being able to do more things agility wise. I can move, cut through smaller spaces and definitely give more effort out there in the game. I can go from 100 effort to 150 now.
Q: What did you change with your diet that helped you lose the weight?
James: Just the lifestyle. I have the money to go get food, go out to eat in the nice restaurants and you take advantage sometimes. But those are not always the best meals. You think youre going out eating all the time and no matter what you pick, theyre not always healthy. So just this year, Ive been real strict on eating home cooked meals. Ive just been eating a lot of home cooked meals and just doing the regular routines and never quitting. Always lift every day, try to get better every day with that, and its just been burning more fat for me, I guess.
Q: How do you keep this going in the offseason?
James: I dont think Im going to leave Eric Foran or Bill Forans side during the summer. I dont think this is it for me. I still feel I have a long way to go and I want to get there body wise. I think the game will follow.
Q: So this Miami Heat culture is a real thing?
James: Its super real. Its super real. This culture is real. Not only that, you know the kind of practices we have. We have those kind of practices where you cant go out and hang out all night and think youre going to be able to come to practice and really go hard because Ill call you out, everybody on this team will call you out. We wont leave it to the coaches to call you out. We take care of that ourselves. Thats the inside of the locker room.
Q: What did you do with your before-and-after photos?
James: I always hang it up in my locker.
Q: Do you have more before-and-after photos from earlier this season?
James: Yeah, of course. I just didnt go from 270-something to this. I have a before-and-after picture right when I got to 10 percent body fat, and then I got one when I got to eight. I ask for them. Its not just motivation, but to see how far you came. The first time I got one, I wasnt even where Im at now, and I even had to call my old lady and say, Yo, Im sorry you had to be with this guy. I didnt know it was that bad. She was at the pool with me and Im thinking Im good. But they were really just staring at her the whole time, I guess. Its just good motivation and its a good reminder not to go back.
Previous
Udonis Haslem says Celtics have to get over feeling of betrayal toward RayAllen
Next
Hassan Whiteside will play vs. Raptors despite right handlaceration
Read the rest here:
Q&A: Miami Heat's James Johnson opens up about his weight loss ... - Palm Beach Post (blog)
