From imposing figures like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to intimidating physical forces like Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace and Kevin Garnett, the NBA has had numerous enforcers who struck fear in their opponents.
It didn't matter whether it was with physical dominance, mind games, or intensity; these players had another level of psycho in them that threw the opposition off their game.
In the modern era, however, one name often stands out – James Johnson . Standing at 6'7", 250 lbs, JJ isn't your typical basketball player. His fighting background, which heavily influenced his athletic career, is highlighted by a 2nd-degree black belt in karate and a stand-alone kickboxing career, making him the most feared player of his era.
In college at Wake Forest, Jeff Teague had a chance to play with Johnson and see his immaculate fighting skills and mindset first-hand. But before he even knew what JJ was made of, Jeff had to go through some difficulties.
After he was constantly being annoyed by Wake Forest's football players for being called "Mike Conley," Jeff made it known he didn't like the provocative talk. But before he could know it, JJ heard all of that talk and saw Teague's frustrations, instantly coming to his defense and threatening the football team that he would do something about it if they didn't put an end to it.
In the heat of the moment, the football players were calling him out on his bluff, but Johnson wasn't goofing around.
"So, we had a meeting, as a team," said Teague. "This dude had a kickboxing match set up. The coach has to sit us down and tell us, like, 'Yo, are you gonna be a kickboxer or a basketball player?' He like, 'I need some money.'"
"He had a record already. He was like 10-0 in kickboxing. He choose basketball, tho. He said after he retire he gonna be a kickboxer. He gonna go back," he added.
As it turned out, the coaches stepped in and intervened, stopping JJ from carrying out his mission to beat up the football players who were teasing Teague. From then on, however, the two would share an instant bond and remained friends ever since.
At a very young age, James began his fighting path through karate, where he secured seven world titles and nine national crowns by the time he was 18. At that age, he began transitioning into MMA, winning his first MMA fight in just 97 seconds with a K.O.
The catalyst to Johnson's fighting career came from his family, where black belts are a must. His father, Willie, is a renowned martial artist who holds 10 national karate titles and five world championships. His mother, Vi, also has five national titles to her name. Aside from JJ, all of his eight siblings also hold a black belt.
Throughout his basketball career, Johnson used his background and reputation to defend his teammates and himself, serving as an enforcer and protector against on-court altercations.
Currently, Johnson claims an undefeated 20-0 record in kickboxing and a 7-0 MMA record, and he feels confident he can take on Jon Jones in a fight .
After he decides to hang his jersey, JJ will transition back into his fighting career, as he expressed interest in returning to the foundation that got him where he is now.
Related: James Johnson breaks down the secrets of Heat Culture: "They hold you to a standard"
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
