With a record of 6-1 at the midway point in the season, the Hamilton Honey Badgers aren’t resting on their second-place position in the Canadian Elite Basketball League standings. The club announced Wednesday that it has signed power forward Nino Johnson to add physicality to a roster that has been undersized since losing projected starting forward MJ Rhett to an Achilles tear at the start of training camp.

A 6-foot-9 native of Memphis, Tenn., Johnson last played during the 2019-20 NBA G League season when he averaged 3.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 10.8 minutes in 36 games with the Memphis Grizzlies affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.

“Nino is extremely physical with really good foot work for his size,” said Honey Badgers General Manager Jermaine Anderson. “He can run the floor in transition and defend in any pick-and-roll situation. More importantly, he’s a team player that’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. We’re definitely looking forward to having Nino join our team to finish out the season.”

The Southeast Missouri State alum averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.8 blocks during four years with the Redhawks. The five-year pro played in Japan, Poland, Finland, Israel, Iceland, and the Philippines before spending his last two seasons with the Memphis Hustle.

The Honey Badgers open the second half of the CEBL season Thursday at FirstOntario Centre against the only team that’s defeated them, still unbeaten Edmonton (6-0), in a rematch of the league’s two top clubs.



Media Contact:

Maria Suriani

Director, Operations & Community Engagement

msuriani@honeybadgers.ca