Valley of the Suns
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Expect Cam Johnson’s role to grow for the Phoenix Suns

By Kyle Manthe

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 30: Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 30: Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Lost in all of the deserved hype surrounding the Phoenix Suns after their win against the Clippers was the debut of Cam Johnson. Johnson played only nine minutes, but that should change quickly.

Think about the anticipation behind the debut of some of the Phoenix Suns’ latest first round picks.

Just last season the Suns were featured on ESPN for their opening night largely because it was DeAndre Ayton‘s first game.

That was much different this year.

After missing the first two games due to injury, Cam Johnson made his NBA debut on Saturday against the Clippers. If you were to go over the talking points of the game, or just the Phoenix Suns ‘season so far, Johnson getting on the court for the first time would be well down the list.

It is not his fault that he only played nine minutes the first game, all of the credit goes to the Suns for playing so well and, on the opposite end, to Ayton for causing his trouble.

Although Johnson has already made strides in minutes played after seeing 13 minutes of on court time in the loss to the Jazz.

Even last season Mikal Bridges did not touch the floor until the final minute of the Suns’ opening night game.

The difference for Johnson is that he was returning from injury and the Phoenix Suns have actual competent basketball players in front of him.

For all players, teams do not want to rush them back from an injury, and it is difficult to get back into rhythm when first returning.

This is especially true for Johnson since it was his first NBA experience and because his injury caused him to miss what was essentially the Suns’ second training camp that Head Coach Monty Williams scheduled in between the extended break from the last preseason game to the first regular season matchup.

Even with Johnson’s advanced age for a rookie, he is still a rookie who needs time to acclimate to the NBA game.

This is not to say that if Johnson is knocking down everything his next game that he won’t play big minutes.

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If another wing or big man is injured, or Frank Kaminsky stops doing his best Dirk Nowitzki impression, then Johnson will get his extra playing time. For a player with a skill as valuable as Cam’s unless the Phoenix Suns continue to play like a western conference elite, he will get an expanded role, either naturally or through his own play.

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