Alize Johnson bought his mother a car. What did you do for your mother this week?
By Ben Gibson
Alize Johnson of the Indiana Pacers did what many NBA rookies do when they get the chance: Thank their mothers by buying them a new car.
When you sign an NBA contract, even a modest one by NBA standards like Alize Johnson did, there are many things you suddenly can afford to buy. For one of the newest members of the Indiana Pacers, he knew exactly what to buy.
A brand new car for his mother.
Needless to say from the video shared on Instagram, she was overwhelmed by the gesture.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blbw1KcgMSl/
For a guy like Johnson, who certainly didn’t take the most direct path to the NBA, signing an NBA contract is no small matter. Most NBA players didn’t grow up rich, many were middle class, maybe less, but it isn’t as if every kid is the son of a former NBA player. The likelihood of reaching their dream is incredibly low.
And yet, Johnson did it. He made it. And the first thing he thought of to do with that money was to buy his mother a car. That’s always going to pull at our heartstrings.
For any of us, buying some big-ticket item like that for our mom would be something we’d love to do if we ever had the chance. Hard work and persistence paid off in Johnson’s case, and his mom has a shiny new toy sitting in her driveway thanks to that.
Johnson follows in the footsteps of Glenn Robinson III and Myles Turner, who both bought family members their own brand new vehicles.
It’s been quite the month for Johnson. His impressive Summer League performance earned him that contract and got his name out there enough to get someone to drop a track on Soundcloud in his honor.
Next: Taking stock of the Pacers and the summer
Hopefully, the good times continue for Johnson as the regular season approaches.