Joe Johnson reaches 19,000 career points in Heat debut
It didn't take long for Joe Johnson to acclimate himself to his new surroundings, with his debut in a Miami Heat uniform Sunday night going as well - if not better - than he could have hoped.
In 30 minutes as part of Erik Spoelstra's starting lineup, the 15-year veteran scored 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field as the Heat cruised to a 98-81 victory at Madison Square Garden over the New York Knicks.
Miami's only 3-pointer of the game came from Johnson's first shot attempt of the night, under four minutes into the first quarter.
His 12 points also pushed him over the 19,000-point mark for his career, moving him past Dale Ellis for 51st in league history.
NBA All-Time Scoring List
| Rank | Players | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Bob Lanier | 19,248 |
| 48 | Eddie Johnson | 19,202 |
| 49 | Gail Goodrich | 19,181 |
| 50 | Reggie Theus | 19,015 |
| 51 | Joe Johnson | 19,009 |
| 52 | Dale Ellis | 19,004 |
| 53 | Pau Gasol | 18,957 |
| 54 | Scottie Pippen | 18,940" |
Prior to the game, Johnson was asked why he decided to come to South Beach after the Brooklyn Nets bought out his contract.
"I have a lot of friends on this team. Talking to those guys through this process helped my decision," Johnson said. "This was a tough decision, but I think it is the right fit."
Johnson also confirmed that the team offered him a starting spot if he signed.