Johnson’s big debut helps Sixers over Pistons in NBA Summer League

Well, they do say Las Vegas is like the “Ninth Island” of Hawai’i.

Former Rainbow Warriors standout Isaac Johnson looked like he was back home in the islands as made his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday, scoring 20 points in 20 minutes of action off the bench to help lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 101-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons inside the Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.

Johnson, who became the first UH men’s basketball player to earn All-Big West first-team honors since Eddie Stansberry in 2019-20, was the second-leading scorer for the 76ers against the Pistons and turned in a team-high +13 in the win.

The 7-footer was 6-of-10 from the field and went 4-for-6 from 3-point range, including a four-point play in the fourth quarter that helped Philadelphia pull away late in the team’s 2026 Summer League opener.

He also added two rebounds, an assist and a block while playing in lineups next to second-year big man Johni Broome.

Former Cal State Fullerton guard Dante Maddox Jr. led the Sixers with 21 points in the win.

Big Fish and the 76ers will return to action on Saturday, July 11 at 11:30 a.m. HT against the Indiana Pacers on Amazon Prime. The Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday to begin the Summer League slate for both teams.