Former Hawaii star Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson to play in NBA Summer League

Big Fish is getting the call to the big leagues.

Well, the NBA’s Summer League, at least.

Former University of Hawai’i standout and Big West 1st-team center Isaac Johnson will play for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, according to his representation from Slash Sports & Entertainment.

Johnson quickly became a fan favorite in his lone season in the islands, captivating fans with his signature “Big Fish chomp” celebration and multiple memorable performances in big moments.

The sweet-shooting 7-footer started all 33 games for the Big West champion Rainbow Warriors in 2025-26, averaging career highs across the board with a team-best 14.1 points along with 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

He also led UH from the charity stripe, drilling 88.5% of his free throws (2nd-best single-season percentage in program history) and became the first Hawai’i player since Stefan Jovanovic (’15-16) to tally 30+ three pointers and 30+ blocks in a single season.

“It feels pretty awesome to have this opportunity,” Johnson said in a text to HSRN on Thursday after receiving Summer League invite. “I’m so grateful for the opportunities Hawai’i gave me … All the staff and people the in community that made this dream a reality.”

The NBA Summer League runs from July 9-19 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion on the campus of UNLV and will see all 30 teams participate. Full rosters have not yet been released.

The 76ers will play four games through pool play, facing off against the Pistons, Pacers, Rockets and Magic over the course of seven days. The full schedule is below, courtesy of Adam Aaronson: