Joey Johnson
Biography
Joey Johnson is considered one of the best power players in the world. He is renowned for his intensity and toughness in the paint and he knows how to generate plays by creating space for himself and his teammates.
At age eight, Johnson was diagnosed with a degenerative hip disease and he began playing wheelchair basketball the following year after being introduced to the sport by a friend. His dedication is the key to his success in the sport. Once he sets his sights on a goal, he doesn’t give up until he has achieved it.
His career with Team Canada began in 1995. In nearly two decades with the national team, Johnson has competed in five Paralympic Games, capturing back-to-back gold medals in 2000 and 2004, a silver medal in 2008, and a third gold medal in 2012. He also seized a world championship title in 2006.
Johnson has been around the world with wheelchair basketball. In addition to his exploits with Team Canada, he has played the sport professionally in both Australia and Germany, where he captained the RSV-Lahn Dill club team.
Interesting Facts
- He has a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he also played collegiate wheelchair basketball
Awards / Highlights
- Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2016)
- Inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame (2013)
- Received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Played in the 2002 NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic
- Won three consecutive national titles and MVP awards at the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League Open Finals with the Winnipeg Thunder (2001-2003)
- Captained club team RSV Lahn-Dill in Wetzlar, Germany
Major International Competition
| Tournament |  |
 |
 |
Other |
| Paralympic Games: 5 | 3 (’12,’04,’00) | 1 (’08) | 5th (’96) | |
| World Championships: 4 | 1 (’06) | 0 | 2 (’02, ’98) | 7th (’10) |
Statistics
Paralympic Games
*As of 2000
| Year | GP | Min | M/G | Field Goals | 3Pts | Free Throws | Rebounds | AS | TO | ST | BS | PF | FO | PTS | P/G | |||||
| M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | OR | DR | TOT | ||||||||||||
| 2012 | 8 | 169 | 21:04 | 19/34 | 56 | 0/0 | – | 20/32 | 63 | 12 | 41 | 53 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 29 | 58 | 7.3 |
| 2008 | 8 | 179 | 22:26 | 21/47 | 45 | 0/1 | 0 | 29/61 | 48 | 23 | 50 | 73 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 2 | 20 | 54 | 71 | 8.9 |
| 2004 | 8 | 150 | 18:46 | 31/56 | 54 | 0/2 | 0 | 18/36 | 50 | 15 | 37 | 52 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 36 | 80 | 10.0 |
| 2000 | 8 | 169 | 21:06 | 27/56 | 48 | 0/1 | 0 | 5/17 | 29 | 20 | 53 | 73 | 10 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 16 | – | 59 | 7.4 |
| TOTAL | 32 | 667 | 20:50 | 98/194 | 51 | 0/4 | 0 | 72/146 | 49 | 70 | 181 | 251 | 55 | 46 | 50 | 12 | 61 | 119 | 268 | 8.4 |
World Championships
*As of 2000
| Year | GP | Min | M/G | Field Goals | 3 Pts | Free Throws | Rebounds | AS | TO | ST | BS | PF | FO | PTS | P/G | |||||
| M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | OR | DR | TOT | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | 8 | 218 | 27:18 | 24/50 | 48 | 1/9 | 11 | 14/35 | 40 | 19 | 59 | 78 | 27 | 21 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 43 | 65 | 8.1 |
| 2006 | 8 | 186 | 23:15 | 36/67 | 54 | 2/5 | 40 | 25/51 | 49 | 12 | 45 | 57 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 103 | 12.9 |
| 2002 | 8 | 183 | 22:52 | 42/78 | 54 | 0/1 | 0 | 23/52 | 44 | 15 | 42 | 57 | 17 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 107 | 13.4 |
| TOTAL | 24 | 587 | 24:29 | 102/195 | 52 | 3/15 | 20 | 62/138 | 45 | 46 | 146 | 192 | 68 | 48 | 48 | 5 | 44 | 43 | 275 | 11.5 |
Legend: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes; M/G = Minutes per Game; M/A = Made / Attempted; OR = Offensive Rebounds; DR = Defensive Rebounds; TOT = Total; AS = Assists; TO = Turn Overs; ST = Steals; BS = Blocked Shots;PF = Personal Foul; FO = Foul On; PTS = Points; P/G = Points per Game
Competitive Experience
| Level | Team | Location | Year(s) |
| International | Canada (SMNT) | Canada | 1998-2012 |
| International | Canada (JMNT) | Canada | 1997 |
| Club (domestic) | RSV Lahn-Dill | Wetzlar (Germany) | 2004-2012 |
| Club (domestic) | Milwaukee Wheelchair Buck | Wisconsin (United States) | 2002-2003 |
| Club (domestic) | Wollongong Roller Hawks | Australia | 2001-2003 |
| Club (domestic) | Winnipeg Thunder | Manitoba | 2001-2003 |
| Club (domestic) | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Wisconsin (United States) | 1996-2001 |
Career Notes
2012: 1st place at Paralympic Games in London, England (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at Continental Clash tournament in Worcester, England (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Papendal Tournament in Arnhem, Netherlands (Team Canada)…
2011: 3rd place at Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico (Team Canada)… 3rd place at International Tournament of Champions in Charlotte, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at BT Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)…
2010: 7th place at World Championships in Birmingham, UK (Team Canada)… 2nd place at BT Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)… 3rd place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)…1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 4th place at National Championships with Team Manitoba in Saskatoon, SK (domestic)…
2009: 2nd at Americas Cup Qualifier in Richmond, BC (Team Canada)… 4th place at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Montreal, QC (domestic)…
2008: 2nd place at Paralympic Games in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 2nd place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Osnabrück, Germany (Team Canada)… 1st place at Good Luck Beijing Invitational Tournament in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 4th place at National Championships with Team Manitoba in Vancouver, BC (domestic)…
2007: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at VISA Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)…
2006: 1st place at World Championships & named All-Star in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)… 1st place at Osaka Cup in Osaka, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 3rd place at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Kitchener, ON (domestic)…
2005: 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Colorado, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 3rd place at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Edmonton, AB (domestic)… Won Paralympic Sport Award for Best Team Performance as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…
2004: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece (Team Canada)… 1st place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Vancouver, BC (domestic)… Won Canadian Sport Award for Male Team of the Year as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…
2003: 1st place at Parapan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place in National Wheelchair Basketball League with the Wollongong Roller Hawks & named Finals MVP in Brisbane, Australia (domestic)… competed at NWBA Final Four Championship with the Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks in Phoenix, USA (domestic)… competed at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Winnipeg Thunder & named MVP in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)…
2002: 3rd place at World Championships & named All-Star in Kitakyushu, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament & named All-Star in Vitória, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at NWBA Final Four Championship with the Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks in Champaign, USA (domestic)… played in the NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic in Philadelphia, USA (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Winnipeg Thunder & named MVP in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)…
2001: 3rd place at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named MVP in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Winnipeg Thunder & named MVP in Saint John, NB (domestic)…
2000: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… competed at National Championships with Team Manitoba & named All-Star in Edmonton, AB (domestic)…
1999: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in USA (domestic)…
1998: 3rd place at World Championships in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Winnipeg, MB (Team Canada)…
1997: 1st place at World Junior Championships in Toronto, ON (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in USA (domestic)…
1996: 5th place at Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in USA (domestic)…
1995: 1st place at Qualification Tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Team Canada)… 5th place at Canada Games with Team Manitoba in Grande Prairie, AB (domestic)…