Basketball ‘always a passion’ for recently acquired guard

Moments after watching the Indiana Pacers’ second-round draft selection courteously address media members Tuesday afternoon, one of the team’s assistant coaches nodded his head in the direction of Orlando Johnson.

“He’s something else, isn’t he?” Dan Burke said.

Or maybe a lot of somethings. At 23, Johnson has experienced more adversity — and overcome it — than someone four times his age.

The muscular 6-foot-5 guard, acquired by Indiana in a draft-night trade with Sacramento after the Kings selected him with the 36th overall pick, has been portrayed as courageous, mature, opportunistic, fortunate, unfortunate, level-headed, personable, dependable, amusing, even-keeled and more.

Johnson’s self-analysis is much simpler. He’s a young man who, based on tremendous work ethic and a sprinkling of good fortune, has put himself in a position to contribute to one of the NBA’s up-and-coming franchises.

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