If an NBA player is confident and bold enough to publicly declare he could beat the UFC's pound-for-pound king, Jon Jones, you better believe he's packing heat in those fists and legs. That's precisely what Indiana Pacers forward James Johnson has. With a background in martial arts, including earning a second-degree black belt in karate, Johnson is not your average NBA player.
As a matter of fact, the 15-year veteran has earned a reputation for being the most dangerous man in the league. And according to his former teammate and close friend, Jeff Teague , woe is the man who tries to test that reputation.
A legitimate martial arts practitioner
Teague, a one-time All-Star and a champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, and JJ go way back to their days as teammates at Wake Forest. So the 6-foot-3 guard has plenty of first-hand experience with Johnson's impressive martial arts skills. In an interview on "The Draymond Green Show," Teague shared tales of how lethal Johnson can be when needed.
"I've seen this in real life. Y'all do not want that, bro. I tell everybody, I've seen him knock out three dudes at one time, knock out a seven-footer," Teague relayed . "He's not someone to play with, bro. And when he gets into a kickboxing stance, you know you're about to fight someone serious. He squares up, pulling his pants up kickboxing style."
Teague added there was one time he was unsure if JJ's reputation preceded himself. However, for a man with a nickname of "Bloodsport," Jeff said it was best he didn't test his luck.
"I remember one time I told him, 'I don't care. You're gonna have to show me.' That whole day in practice, I was thinking, 'If this dude really shows me, I ain't gonna make it home,'" Jeff conveyed.
Runs in the family
Before anyone thinks James is a bloodthirsty bully who gets his kicks off of beating people up, Teague clarified that the former is a genuine friend who would do anything to help a brother out.
"He's the nicest dude in the world, bro. He would give you the shirt off his back. The way he treats people is unbelievable," the speedy, high-scoring guard stressed.
JJ's martial arts proficiency can be traced to his family, most of whom are black belts in different disciplines.
"I've seen videos of his whole family; they're all black belts. From his pops to his mom, she's something else too. Their whole family is lethal," Teague added.
Teague shared that James was taught martial arts at a young age. He and his siblings were all trained to withstand extreme pain, with one particular drill testing their minds and bodies.
"He's got videos of his dad beating his legs with wood to toughen them up. They've got their feet up six inches, and his dad is beating his legs with wood. When you see James, his legs are massive and super strong, but it's all for kickboxing," Teague revealed.
James Johnson is one-of-one in the NBA, with unique skills and training that sets him apart from his peers. He remains a solid basketball player and a fantastic teammate who regularly stands up to any foe who tries to bully his squad.
Related: Bam Adebayo reacts to James Johnson beating up a Heat teammate for calling him a bit**: "This is how I knew I won't gonna fu** with that man"
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