JJ saved his best move for off the court

[slinslin]

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JJ Reaches Out to Recovering
HS Basketball Player


By Josh Greene, Suns.com
Posted: Sept. 29, 2004
Joe Johnson proves some NBA players save their best moves for off the court.

The Suns' guard has made fast friends with Joe Kay, the 18-year-old basketball player who’s recovering from a stroke suffered after a February 2004 varsity game. Celebrating fans inadvertently injured the Tucson High School forward when they swarmed him following his game-winning dunk over rival Salpointe Catholic High.

“When you see a guy like Joe and think about the things he used to do like play basketball, it’s hard for him,” JJ said about Kay, who was gearing up to attend Stanford on a volleyball scholarship before the accident.

“It makes you value your life a lot more. It makes you look at your life a lot differently.”

Initially paralyzed on the right side of his body, Kay spent a great deal of time in an intensive care unit. Johnson heard about the accident and looked in on the youngster during his hospital stay soon after.

“I wanted to go visit him and help him out as much as possible,” JJ said. “I’ve visited him in the hospital a few times and just hung out with him. I gave him tickets to a Suns game and have been keeping in touch.”

A Suns fan since he was 7 years old, Kay got a chance to check out his favorite NBA team in person when JJ invited him to a game at America West Arena last spring. While there, the teen got a glimpse of the same locker room where his all-time Suns favorites like Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and Cedric Ceballos used to suit up for their games.

“The first time I met Joe Johnson was a couple of weeks after my injury,” Kay said. “He just wanted to say hello. He gave me tickets to a Suns game and took me down into the locker room and gave me a jersey. So that was pretty good.”

JJ recently met up with Kay again. This time the Suns' guard invited the teen and his old teammates to dinner at NYPD Pizza in Phoenix. It was the first time the hoops squad ate with an NBA player, and it also marked the first time Johnson saw his new pal up and walking around. Kay had been using a wheelchair since leaving the hospital months ago.

“This was my first time seeing him walk,” JJ said. “I’ve visited him in hospital, but he wasn’t walking. It’s great to see him doing a lot better.

“We’re just having guy talk. These guys are in high school, so there’s a lot they want to know. As much as I can help them, I’m going to try. I’m just going to give them the best advice I can.”

Kay is still working toward regaining full use of the right side of his body. He’s regained his ability to walk and talk, and next up: running. Grateful for Joe’s interest and friendship, it’s a safe bet that JJ will soon be added to his list of all-time favorite Suns, if he’s not already.

“I never met anyone famous until now,” Kay admitted. “I didn’t know what to think. I never knew how big and how great these players were.

“Just the fact he still remembers who I am six months after he first visited me in the hospital and he’s still wondering how I’m doing, it’s pretty amazing.”

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[SweetD]

Good story

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Thats a cool story, makes me like Joe Johnson anymore

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

It seems that the Suns have a lot of players that do things like this on the side. That is one of the best parts of this team, you really cannot point to a trouble maker. Even when Marbury was here, he was on his best behavior, and helped out in the community multiple times.

Its things like these that make me mad when people generalize NBA players as money hungry, self serving prima donas. We actually have a pretty good group of guys on our team.

 

[George O'Brien]

It's easier to root for guys who are super individuals and not just fine players. You have to wonder just how much damage Kobe might have done to this team's chemistry and public image.