My Faith Kept Me Going

On December 9, 2011 Carldell Johnson signed with the New Orleans Hornets training camp roster, where he became a home town favorite. After he was released from the New Orleans Hornets, Johnson returned to the Austin Toros where they won the NBA Development League Championship. Prior to signing with the New Orleans Hornets, Johnson was featured in an article written in the Austin American-Statesman in which his teammate Lance Thomas stated, "That Squeak's selfless. He's just happy being here. He's always making someone smile." Johnson himself was quoted as saying, "A lot of people might think, you know, five years in the D-League? But I'm excited. I'm excited to be playing basketball." Since turning professional in 2006, he played for three different teams in Mexico and two in Belgium as well as having three different stints with the Austin Toros in the NBA Development League. He also has been a non-roster invitee of the San Antonio Spurs on two occasions. Carldell Johnson also participate with the New York Knicks mini camp in 2012. Later that year he played for the Atlanta Hawks during their 2012 pre-season. When Johnson was seventeen years old, his father passed away of cancer. Johnson said that, "My whole life I've been trying to grind it out and work hard to get where I need to be. My father died from cancer, and I grew up in a tough neighborhood in New Orleans East where guys would get bored and find time to get into other things, like stealing cars and walking around looking for fights. Johnson's autobiography covers his faith and determination on both on and off the court. It also outlines how he overcame the hardships of living in New Orleans East as a child as well as the horrors he experienced during and after Hurricane Katrina, and his triumph of becoming an NBA player. His inspiring story will touch the hearts of many.