The time had finally come for Johnny 'The Jr. Joker' Juzang Jr. to play in his first official NBA game. The Miami Heat were set to open their season against their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic. The buzz in the arena was electric, and though he was still a backup to Jimmy Butler, Johnny knew this was his moment to make a statement. All the training, the long hours in the gym, and the lessons from Kevin Love and Jimmy had led him to this point.
Johnny wouldn’t be in the starting lineup—that honor belonged to Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin, and Josh Richardson. But Johnny knew that as Butler’s backup at small forward, his opportunity would come, and when it did, he needed to be ready.
Pregame Jitters
As Johnny warmed up with the team, he couldn’t help but feel the nerves creeping in. The Heat’s home crowd was loud, and the expectations were high. This wasn’t summer league or preseason. This was the NBA. His first official game.
Jimmy Butler noticed the tension on Johnny’s face as they were getting ready in the locker room. The veteran leaned over and gave him a quick pat on the back.
“Relax, Joker,” Jimmy said with a grin. “We’ve all been there. First game jitters are normal, but just remember—you’ve put in the work. Trust your game. When I sit, you go out there and do your thing.”
Johnny nodded, grateful for Jimmy’s reassurance. Still, as they ran out onto the court for pregame introductions, the nerves remained.
The First Half
The Magic came out aggressive, looking to assert themselves early. Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and the rest of Orlando’s young core were hungry to prove they could take down the veteran-laden Heat. Jimmy Butler, as expected, was Miami’s offensive engine, driving to the rim, getting to the line, and setting up teammates. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo also made their mark, keeping Miami in the game with key plays.
By the end of the first quarter, the Heat held a slight 27-24 lead. Johnny sat watching from the bench, intently studying the flow of the game, noting how the Magic ran their offense and how Jimmy controlled the tempo. As the second quarter rolled around, Erik Spoelstra turned to Johnny.
“Alright, Joker,” Spoelstra called out. “Jimmy’s getting a breather. Go out there and keep the energy up.”
Johnny’s heart raced as he stood up, unzipped his warm-up gear, and jogged to the scorer’s table. The crowd gave a polite cheer as he checked into the game, marking his official NBA debut.
First NBA Minutes
Johnny stepped onto the court with his focus locked in. His assignment: Franz Wagner, Orlando’s dynamic forward. Johnny knew Wagner could score from anywhere on the court, so he prepared to lock in defensively, just as he had been taught by Jimmy.
Wagner quickly tested Johnny, trying to get past him with a drive to the hoop. But Johnny slid his feet, staying in front of him and contesting the shot, forcing Wagner into a difficult fadeaway jumper that missed. The Heat grabbed the rebound, and Johnny hustled back down the floor.
On the offensive end, Johnny played within the flow, not forcing anything. With Tyler Herro running the point and Bam Adebayo working inside, Johnny spaced the floor, looking for his opportunity. It came when Josh Richardson drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to Johnny in the corner. Johnny caught the pass, squared up, and let it fly. The ball sailed through the net—a perfect three-pointer.
The crowd erupted as Johnny’s first NBA points hit the board, and his confidence surged.
The Second Half – Crunch Time
As the game wore on, the intensity ramped up. Miami and Orlando battled back and forth, and the fourth quarter became a dogfight. Jimmy Butler returned to the game, taking over as Miami’s closer, but the Magic wouldn’t go away. Paolo Banchero was putting pressure on Miami’s defense, and the game remained tight.
With about six minutes left and the score close, Erik Spoelstra turned to Johnny again.
“Joker, give Jimmy a couple minutes. We need defense and energy out there.”
Johnny re-entered the game, feeling more comfortable this time. His legs were fresh, and he was determined to make an impact. He stayed locked in on defense, switching onto Banchero and Wagner, keeping them in check with his length and positioning.
Then, with just over four minutes left, the Heat found themselves in a critical offensive possession. The ball swung around the perimeter, and it ended up in Johnny’s hands at the top of the key. With the shot clock winding down, Johnny had no choice but to make a play. He took a hard dribble to his left, pulled up over his defender, and released a high-arcing three.
The ball swished through the net. Another clutch three for Johnny, and the crowd went wild. He pumped his fist, knowing he had stepped up in a crucial moment.
The Finish
Jimmy Butler checked back into the game with three minutes left, and Johnny took a seat on the bench, his adrenaline still pumping. Jimmy, as usual, took over in the closing minutes, getting to the free-throw line and making clutch defensive stops. The Heat held on for a gritty 102-98 victory over the Magic.
Johnny’s final stat line for the night read: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 14 minutes of action. It wasn’t a superstar performance, but for a rookie making his debut, it was exactly what he needed to build confidence.
As the final buzzer sounded, Johnny stood with his teammates, celebrating their first win of the season. In the locker room, Jimmy found Johnny and gave him a nod of approval.
“You did good out there, Joker. Keep playing like that, and you’ll be seeing a lot more minutes,” Jimmy said with a smile.
Johnny grinned. His first NBA game was in the books, and he had made an impact. There was still a long season ahead, but tonight, he had taken a big step forward. This was just the beginning.