James Johnson was at Tyrese Haliburton’s wedding on August 1.
James Johnson was at the players-only mini-camp last week in Nashville.
And now, James Johnson will be in Indianapolis next week for Pacers training camp.
The Pacers reached agreement on a training camp deal with the veteran forward on Tuesday, league sources told Fieldhouse Files. The news was first reported by Substack publication The Stein Line.
A training camp invite, specifically an Exhibit 9 deal, is a non-guaranteed contract that will allow Johnson to participate and be around the team. However, given the Pacers’ salary-cap limitations, it’s unlikely that he’ll be on the opening day roster.
But it reopens the door for Johnson to potentially rejoin the team later.
The Pacers are currently in the luxury tax and hard-capped close to the first apron. But their cap situation can change throughout the course of a season.
Johnson will be 40 in February. But he believes he still has more to give.
He’s been working out — and golfing — in Miami. He’s been watching and rooting for the Pacers from afar. And he most recently played in The Big3, a 3x3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube.
“He’s contributed so much to our situation just in terms of setting examples, mentoring, being very positive, being very truthful,” head coach Rick Carlisle said previously. “He has a really strong reputation in this league as a great competitor, obviously [he’s] a very tough guy. He’s been a difference maker…”
Every team needs example-setters, truth-tellers and some no-bullshit voices. While being all that, Johnson had a special gift for connecting with each player in his own way — despite only appearing in 39 games with the Pacers.
“It matters how the words fall on them,” Johnson said in 2023. “Some guys like to be yelled at, that turns them up. Some guys like one arm around their shoulder and talked to just one-on-one. And some guys don’t like to be talked to for a little bit. You got to know your personnel.”
Johnson — a finalist for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award in 2025 — quickly became close to Haliburton despite a 13-year age gap.
Haliburton wants to be great. He wants to win. And he wants to do it in Indy.
“He’s been really awesome,” Haliburton said in 2023. “From the minute he got here, our first-ever conversation he’s like, ‘Man, I got your back. Don’t worry about anything.’
“Playing against James Johnson, I knew you don’t mess with that guy. When he came here and said that to me, I was like, ‘All right, I’m good then. I’m not worried about nobody. I got him with me.’
“He’s been great for a lot of different guys. He’s the ultimate hype man for everybody in that locker room, coaches included. He just wants to see everybody succeed.”
The Pacers elected not to bring Johnson back last season. If he eventually signs another veteran’s minimum deal, it would be his 17th season in the NBA. Remarkable longevity for any player.
He first joined the team in 2022 and immediately made a strong impression. He’s tough and he’s an enforcer and he’s a willing teacher.
Someone who is beloved by everyone on the team.
And if this camp deal doesn’t eventually lead to a roster spot, this opportunity will allow for Johnson to be around a group he remains close with — and to provide the edge, leadership, and perspective the Pacers have long valued from him.
📅 Pacers Season Timeline
Thursday, Sept. 24: Front Office Reception with local reporters
Monday, Sept. 28: Media Day
Tuesday, Sept. 29: First day of training camp
Wednesday, Oct. 7 v Minnesota (at Iowa State): Preseason Game 1
Wednesday, Oct. 21 at New Orleans: Opening Night
