"That's just how I was raised. I feel like Northwood, the basketball gym felt like my home since I'm there so much, before, during and after school... I just wanted to help out. That was really it."
The nickel now has become a premium position, a defensive-defining position. So having that length and strength is a big advantage, you know, to be able to reroute and disrupt releases of routes. Foot speed to be able to match routes when you're talking about being able to play true single-high coverage. And then your vision to be able to identify route concepts.
The 33-year-old sported blonde hair on the Hornets bench during their 102-95 Monday win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Charlotte's broadcast team showed Connaughton's look late in the third quarter in what was described on the broadcast as ramifications for losing a bet. After the game, Hornets guard Kon Knueppel revealed that Connaughton's bleach blonde hair was the result of finishing last in the team's fantasy football league.
Entering his rookie season, Johnson was pinned as a legit candidate to make a run for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, especially following his showing throughout NBA Summer League. However, to start the season, the rookie has dealt with the adjustment of his new role on an NBA team, where he found himself bouncing in-and-out of the starting lineup as head coach BrianKeefe continously altered the team's rotation to start the season.