New Tulsa Shock point guard Temeka Johnson has winning edge - Tulsa World

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 5/8/2012  5:46 PM
Last Modified: 5/8/2012  5:46 PM

Temeka Johnson has won professional basketball titles on two continents.Now, she wants to bring that experience to the Tulsa Shock. But she said her first priority is fitting in with new teammates.“Of course you want to bring that experience, everywhere you go. But as far as this team, I’m the new kid on the block,” she said.The seven-year WNBA veteran point guard was acquired in an offseason trade with the Phoenix Mercury for Andrea Riley.Johnson joined her team Tuesday, just in time for the Shock’s media day activities at the BOK Center. She’s fresh off her overseas team’s fourth-place finish in the Russian League.Johnson helped lead Dynamo Kursk to the EuroCup title in 2012, first in team history, and was named top point guard in the Russian League.That goes along with her being named WNBA rookie of the year in 2005 and helping the Phoenix win a championship in 2012.The former LSU standout has 1,569 WNBA career points and has 888 career assists, 19th in league history.Shock head coach Gary Kloppenburg said Johnson is one of the top point guards in the league.“She was the `Little Engine’ that drove that championship team in Phoenix. She’s hard to handle,” he said said. “She’s explosive, she’s a great passer and a great leader, and she can hit a shot. She’s just tough. When we saw she was available, we jumped on that one.”For more on the Tulsa Shock and media day, see Wednesday's Tulsa World

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

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