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Sports

Chris Johnson Makes Jump to NBA

Santa Cruz Warrior center Chris Johnson signs with the Timberwolves.

It's been a long time coming after his stellar play early in the season, but Santa Cruz Warriors center Chris Johnson has been signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

The news came early Saturday morning after the Warriors faced the Los Angeles D-Fenders on Friday night without Johnson. The Warriors newest addition Hilton Armstrong was wearing Johnson's number 34 jersey during the game and it all but sealed Johnson's fate as a member of an NBA team. 

He started five of his 14 games with the Warriors and made a big difference. He averaged 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. 

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This will be the fourth NBA team Johnson has played for in the last three years. In the 2010-11 season, the season he won D-League defensive player of the year, he received the call up from the Portland Trail Blazers after spending time with Dakota Wizards. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in just 10.6 minutes per game. 

After his 10-day contract expired with the Trail Blazers he returned to the Wizards. Later that same month the Boston Celtics recruited Johnson and signed him to a 10-day contract to fill the void during the Kendrick Perkins trade. He played in just four games for the Celtics and saw limited action.

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The Trailblazers would go on to sign him once more for the remainder of the 2010-11 season where he saw action in the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, the eventual NBA Champions. 

The following season he was waived by the Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Hornets were quick to pick him up. However, he would be waived after missing eight games with a concussion. 

He will fill the void for the Timberwolves who have been hit by the injury bug recently. Their All-star and Golden Medalist center Kevin Love re-broke his hand earlier this week. 

Warriors head coach Nate Bjorkgren has called Johnson "super athletic" and a "pleasure to coach". 

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