Following his second consecutive game seeing limited court time, Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson took to social media to let his frustrations be known.
Tuesday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers marked the second game in a row that Johnson played seven minutes or fewer.
Johnson, 28, is averaging just 13.5 minutes per game this season, the lowest mark since his rookie campaign seven seasons ago. The frustration is likely compounded by the inconsistency with which he sees the floor, which has been the case during the course of his Raptors tenure.
Through 16 games this season, Johnson has played less than ten minutes in six games, more than 25 minutes in three starts, and has been benched outright in another four contests. He’s averaging just 2.3 rebounds and a career-low 3.1 points per game.
The addition of DeMarre Carroll this summer has taken small forward minutes away from Johnson, who, in what seems to be the case in each of his four seasons playing under Casey, can’t seem to earn his coaches trust. He’s a skilled defender with an elite ability to initiate contact and drive to the basket, yet Johnson has been unable to find a defined role thus far with the Raptors. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.
The Raptors visit Washington to face the Wizards on Saturday.