Newcastle Eagles star Corey Johnson has revealed his basketball inspiration is Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan after watching highlights of the six-time NBA champion on VHS tapes.
Johnson showed how he prepares for each and every matchday as the Eagles look to defend their British Basketball League Championship in 2021-22. The shooting guard is averaging 14.3 points per game with the Eagles currently lying in fifth position.
The 25-year-old paid tribute to his parents while declaring he was inspired by Jordan while growing up.
“We used to have stacks and stacks and rows on the shelf of key Michael Jordan moments! His iconic games all there, so I would watch those over and over again,” Johnson said in a video produced by Vertu Motors. “Both my parents grew up playing in Canada and they have both coached me.
“I grew up around it, we’re a basketball family so I have always been a part of the sport. I have a lot to thank them for.”
The Canadian joined the Eagles from the Leicester Riders prior to the start of the season, and Johnson has likened being in the city of Newcastle to his time in college. He believes the return of fans have showcased how important spectators are in sport - as well as the benefit of being the home team.
“You don’t really know how important the fan atmosphere is until you don’t have it,” added Johnson. “After playing a full season without fans and in empty stadiums, it’s nice to have the crowd back just to give you that energy and the atmosphere we’ve all missed.”
In the video, Johnson is seen discussing the importance of the right preparation before a game, both physically and mentally. He believes nutrition and mobility are two of the biggest factors to focus on to ensure he is in the best condition possible.
Johnson said: “I’m pretty routine with what I eat, if you’re eating poorly all the time and you’re not doing the right things, then that’s naturally going to show on the court and it shows in your game too.
“I have really flat feet and my ankles pronate in. I do certain exercises with bands and mobility stuff for my hips, my feet and my ankles. I listen to my body so if I feel good, I won’t do as much but If I feel I have to work on a certain area before the game I do as much as I can to get things right.”
Johnson is a firm believer that the mental aspect of sports is something that has been overlooked in the past, and he has ensured he is always in the right state of mind by having a mentor who got him into meditation and practicing breathing.
“If I am ever nervous just before the game, I’ll do some box breathing to reset my mind and focus on the now,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to be too worried about whatever else is going on, and just be completely invested in the moment.”
The fact that Johnson - who is shooting at an impressive 40.7% rate from three-point range this season - chose Jordan as his basketball idol is unsurprising. Jordan was a six-time champion and six-time Finals MVP, as well as a five-time MVP and 14-time NBA All-Star.
The 59-year-old - who the face of the Jordan brand and star of Space Jam - was recently honoured during the NBA’s All-Star break as one of the 75 greatest players in the league’s history, as the current season is the 75th anniversary of the NBA.
