When the Phoenix Suns entered the NBA bubble in July, former OLSH standout Cam Johnson was inserted into the starting lineup.

There was no big message from first-year coach Monty Williams, and there was no “here’s what you have to go do.” For Johnson, it was all doing whatever he could to help the team win.

Since the beginning of the NBA’s restart, that is exactly what the 6-foot-8, 210-pound rookie forward has done.

“It’s been good just having a breakthrough during your rookie season where you can reflect and learn and grow in certain areas,” said Johnson, a 2014 OLSH grad who played three seasons at Pitt and two at North Carolina. “It’s pretty beneficial, so I’m just trying to take advantage of that and contribute to this team in any way possible.”

When the NBA postponed its season in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, it opted to return to play inside of a “bubble” at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Twenty-two teams were invited, and each was set to play eight games to determine seeding for a normal playoff format.

The Suns are the only team that is undefeated in the bubble, and Johnson has played a huge part. He has started every game, averaging 32.7 minutes, 13 points and six rebounds. He also has been one of Phoenix’s best 3-point shooters, converting 39.2% of his attempts.

Before entering the bubble in July, Johnson had started only one game, instead providing the Suns with a strong bench presence. But after starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. went down with an injury and Dario Saric missed the final scrimmage with an injury, Williams turned to Johnson.

Johnson said he hasn’t gone through too much of an adjustment period for his new role.

“Obviously, when you are playing with different guys on the court at different times, it runs a little differently,” Johnson said. “But we’ve been playing together for 70 games now, so it’s not too much of a difference.”

During his seven starts, Johnson has two double-doubles and five games of at least 10 points and is perfect from the free-throw line. He also posted a career high 12 rebounds twice: against Dallas on Aug. 2 and Indiana on Aug. 6.

One of the biggest contributions Johnson has made in Orlando has been on the perimeter. He has made 14 3-pointers in seven games and recently became the fastest Suns player to reach 100 career 3-pointers. His ability to shoot has not only helped him solidify a spot in the starting lineup but also given the team a new dimension.

“When you have a rim threat like Deandre (Ayton) and a shooter in the corner like Cam, that’s what the NBA is. You have to make a decision,” Suns guard Devin Booker told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “The way Cam’s shooting the ball, I think teams are going to realize that’s a decision they can’t make.”

With Johnson’s contributions, the Suns are on one of their hottest streaks of recent memory. The last time Phoenix had a winning streak of at least seven games was in 2010, and their longest winning streak this season was a three-game stretch from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.

Throughout their time in Orlando, the Suns have been playing their best basketball of the season. They beat the Los Angeles Clippers, a favorite to win the NBA title, on a last-second shot and beat Miami and Oklahoma City by a combined 34 points. Johnson said the Suns have been more energetic, resilient and focused during their time in the bubble.

“Just a sustained level of focus, is the biggest thing,” Johnson said. “Not having those lapses, not having those lulls that turn in to lost games and losing streaks. I think even when we have started to fade away a little bit in certain games and certain points in games, we’ve been able to rally.”

Entering their final game Thursday, the Suns have an opportunity to make the Western Conference play-in game, which will pit the No. 8 and 9 seeds against each other for a playoff spot. The No. 9 seed will have to beat the No. 8 seed twice to earn a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Suns can earn the No. 8 seed if the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies lose Thursday. The Suns will earn the No. 9 seed with a win and a loss by either of those teams.

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