Toronto Raptors: Heart, Hustle--The Legacy Of Amir Johnson

It’s not what happens to you,
but how you react to it that matters.
Epictetus
(55-135, Greek sage, and philosopher)

If you’ve ever watched Akira Kurosawa’s grippingly brilliant Seven Samurai, you’ll know that one of the most famous scenes in the film entails Toshirô Mifune’s character, Kikuchiyo, falling in the last great battle that makes up the climax of the movie.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: 50 Greatest NBA Players of the 1970’s

The scene is so famous because, while Kikuchiyo is one of the main characters in the film (and by far the most enthralling), his death is shockingly anticlimactic. He is shot by an arrow, manages to kill his foe and then slumps quietly into the mud. The shot lingers on him for a few more moments, then cuts right back to the action.

Kurosawa’s treatment of Kikuchiyo’s demise has often been described as the most quiet death in film. Seven Samurai portrays the harsh reality and brutality of war, with no moment encapsulating that more than the realization that Kikuchiyo, for all of his raw energy and great skill, is nothing more than a man.

More from Toronto Raptors

A man who can die like the rest of us, and who does die. And then is gone. Just … gone.

This makes us, as viewers, even more teary-eyed. We often take things for granted and don’t realize it until they’re gone; like assuming that Kikuchiyo would make it through the entirety of the film because he’s a powerful warrior. But it also forces us to take a step back, find the things we do still have, and gives us the opportunity to cherish them.

After six full seasons of playing in a Toronto Raptors uniform, Amir Johnson is gone. Just … gone.

Yet, for die-hard fans, Amir was always treasured during his time with the Raptors. As for casual fans, well, they may be just starting to feel the Kikuchiyo effect.

Amir never put up a season’s worth of monster numbers like some other players. His best year with Toronto (2012-13) consisted of 10 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal and 1.4 blocks on 55.4 percent shooting from the field over 28.7 minutes per game.

But that’s not what we’ll remember AJ for. The general context that surrounds him consists of this: he was a hard core hustle player; a guy who was almost always injured but consistently fought through it; a great and mobile defender; a no-maintenance guy; a terrific rebounder for being undersized; someone who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty; the team’s heart and soul.

All of those things are true.

Personally, I’ll remember him for things like: being known for his first name; almost single-handedly winning Game 7 of the 2014 series against Brooklyn; being one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen; always destroying the Lakers whenever they matched up with Toronto; engaging with fans like few other players do; embracing the culture of the city of Toronto with open arms; willing himself through injuries, not just playing through them; always being a class act for media; a true professional in every facet of the game and a guy who leads via action on the court rather than talking smack.

One of the coolest things Johnson did that encompasses the reciprocated love between him and the fans in Toronto was his “I Roll With Amir” event that he made annual thing beginning in his second year with the Raps.

The actual contents of the event changes every year, from steak dinners to an evening at Medieval Times, but the purpose remains the same: to give back to fans and let them spend time with their favourite player.

That’s just the kind of person Amir is. He’s outgoing, friendly and kindhearted. He spent his time in Toronto putting those aspects on full display, not only through his events but by participating in things like zombie walks, fashion week and more.

It was inevitable, looking at what the franchise is doing, that Amir would end up leaving or being traded eventually. It would have been extremely pleasing to have watched Amir get picked up by a contender, but becoming the highest-paid player on the Boston Celtics isn’t a bad alternative.

Johnson inked a $24 million, two-year deal with Boston, meaning not only will he get his money, but that he may also have a chance to find his way onto a contender after his time with the Celtics is up. He’ll only be 30 years old at that point.

Amir released his own personal statement to the fans through social media after the move was announced. How can you not love the guy?

One of my favorite phrases as a Raptors fan for the past six years has been “Amir Johnson is Toronto.” And even though he’s moving on to a new place, I believe that will continue to hold true.

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. Thank you, Amir Johnson.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Without a Championship

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors: Heart And Hustle–The Legacy Of Amir Johnson

By Joshua Howe | Jul 2, 2015

More from Hoops Habit