PHOENIX – It’s a homecoming once again for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson, albeit a very different one than the first one.

Johnson’s return to Phoenix last December for the first time since being traded to the Suns last February was a bizarre play of basketball. It felt like most fans were there to say goodbye to him and Mikal Bridges, wish them well for the future and thank them for their contributions.

Johnson is back again on Wednesday, this time without Bridges, who was traded to the New York Knicks last summer, and this time without the big emotions that day brought.

Johnson confirmed that overcoming the anticipation and emotions that day brought with it helps achieve breakthrough.

“Yeah right. Back to business,” he said.

Business is booming.

Johnson is averaging a career-high 18.3 points and 2.9 assists per game while his turnovers remain at Brooklyn’s lowest (0.7). His field goal percentage of 49.8%, 3-point percentage of 43.1% (on a career-high 7.6 attempts per night) and free throw percentage of 90.6% combine for a shooting percentage of 66.8%.

Among the 129 players taking at least 10 shots per game this season, that 66.8 TS% ranks fourth, according to Stathead.

His first full season with the Nets last year was uneven, and that can be directly attributed to injuries. Johnson had played 58 games and had nine different gaps where he would miss time. Whether it was one game or just a handful, for a player like him that’s important. Over the course of his time in Phoenix, Johnson thrived the more he was allowed to play and the longer he was able to stay on the court.

The most infamous example of this was when he was injured before the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals in 2021. And when Johnson reached his playoff-high of 14 points in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, he was eliminated for the series – he took the win due to food poisoning, and not surprisingly, along with the long layoff until the finals had an uneven performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.

He gives his twin his best and has yet to miss a game this season.

“It’s rhythm, man. It’s the rhythm,” Johnson said of being able to stay healthy. “If you can just settle in and get into a rhythm, that always helps.”

Johnson is available for Wednesday’s game against the Suns after being questionable with an ankle injury. You can imagine that he doesn’t want to miss any time at the moment.

Especially in a place where he feels pretty comfortable.

“It’s cool. Honestly, I’m just glad to have the opportunity to play basketball again tonight,” Johnson said of his return to Phoenix. “But it’s nice to be able to sleep in your own bed with the dog closed see and stuff like that. Definitely nice.”

“I really love this arena, the energy these fans bring,” he added. “I’ve had some pretty cool moments here over the years. So, being here again, that familiarity.”

Johnson said it was “actually kind of weird” being in his house and didn’t feel “real.”

The Nets aren’t quite the Eastern Conference pushovers some expected them to be. With an 8-10 record, Jordi Fernandez’s team has a top-10 offense and ranks ninth in Cleaning the Glass’ database. Brooklyn is third there in 3-point percentage and fifth in efficiency, a good formula for scoring points.

Surprisingly, this is accomplished with a slower offense that has the sixth-highest percentage of plays in the halfcourt this season.

In addition to Johnson, 23-year-old Cam Thomas is starting to establish himself as one of the best young scorers, while 31-year-old Dennis Schroder is having a great year on an expiring contract that is sure to attract interest from players as the season nears We’re coming to February.

“This group, we’ve kind of come together and I think we’re pretty fierce,” Johnson said. “And we compete. No matter what the circumstances are, no matter who is on the court, no matter who is available, we are going to go out there and compete.”

Thomas is out on Wednesday. In the only game he missed earlier this season, a Nets win, Johnson scored a season-high 34 points.

Following Bridges’ departure, prospects have definitely reached out to Brooklyn to keep an eye on Johnson’s availability. He played more than 20 minutes with every top team in the league, and with some even more than 30 minutes. Every team wants a smart, 6-foot-1, elite shooter who plays his ass off. Perhaps the trade deadline will reinvigorate his market, although the NBA’s new first and second court restrictions have made it much more difficult to get deals done.

Whatever situation Johnson finds himself in later this season and beyond, you know he will be aware of the progress he has made and the steps he has taken since leaving Phoenix.

“I think that’s a big thing about playing in this league. Playing basketball in general is about maintaining that perspective,” Johnson said.

Follow @KellanOlson