I would like to see Ivan get a chance with the Jazz. He is an old-school, Jerry Sloan type player who can add some real toughness to the bench. On ESPN radio a few months ago, Mychal Thompson said that Ivan is the only player in the NBA that we would have been afraid to fight, as he is the scariest and toughest player in the league. The Jazz bench could certainly use that. He has less skill for sure, but his willingness to bang and improve his game reminds me of Milsap and Harpring. Below is a good article from ESPN about him during his summer league stint with the Mavs.
https://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-mavericks/post/_/id/4702864/mavs-hope-to-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks?ex_cid=espnapi_public
I'm not sure he fits in the Miller way of community values:
Johnson played college basketball for four different colleges including Cisco Junior College in Texas and Los Angeles Southwest Junior College, where he averaged 22.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game as a sophomore.[1] He then transferred to the University of Oregon on a scholarship, but later left as his coach refused to extend his scholarship because of Johnson's "anger management issues".[2]
Professional career
Johnson began his professional career in the NBA D-League where he played for the Anaheim Arsenal and Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2007-2008. After that, he played in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) with the Changwon LG Sakers and Jeonju KCC Egis from 2008-2010. He was "banned forever" from the KBL for directing the middle-finger gesture at a referee during the final game of the championship series. After the game, the KBL held a meeting and also decided to fine Johnson US$4,448.[3][4]
On December 9, 2011, Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks.[5] On April 13, 2012, Johnson was sent home and fined an undisclosed amount of money for "conduct detrimental to the team."[6] Just three days later on April 16, 2012, Johnson scored a career high 21 points against the Toronto Raptors.[7][8]
On May 12, 2012, the NBA fined Johnson $25,000 for gesturing, again with his middle finger, at a Boston Celtics fan following the Hawks’ elimination from the playoffs.[4]
On September 18, 2012, Johnson signed a one year deal to return to the Hawks.
In August 2013, Johnson signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China.[9][10]
On July 29, 2014, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks.[11] However, he was later waived by the Mavericks on October 25, 2014.[12]
