Rick Carlisle recalls what James Johnson said about fighting in the NBA: "We don't start things, we finish them"

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Rick Carlisle recalls what James Johnson said about fighting in the NBA: "We don't start things, we finish them" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
In recent seasons, the Indiana Pacers have steadily climbed the NBA ranks, earning their place among the league's elite. However, with greater success comes increased competition, as rival teams now approach them with more intensity than before.
Despite this, head coach Rick Carlisle remains unfazed about his team's ability to handle the pressure, particularly with veteran forward James Johnson on the roster, a veteran player suited to diffuse any heated situations and bring stability when it's needed most.
Not the kind of guy an NBA player wants to test their luck with
Although James is already in the twilight of his career, his reputation as the player opponents would least likely wish to fight is intact. After all, with a nickname like "Bloodsport," a black belt in karate, and a supposed perfect 20-0 record in kickboxing, it's not surprising that James exudes an aura of calm confidence on the court, especially when things become dicey.
His presence alone is enough to make opposing players think twice before getting too physical or aggressive. And while he may not put up huge numbers on the stat sheet, his contributions go far beyond mere statistics.
"We don't have problems because we have him sitting over there — James Johnson," Carlisle confidently declared.
The veteran coach shared there was a time when an opponent began chirping at Johnson. However, Carlisle said the latter kept his cool and decided not to engage in the verbal banter.
"One time I heard someone talking to him, saying, 'Hey, don't be starting stuff,' or whatever. And he said to me," Rick shared. "'Coach, in my discipline, we don't start things. We finish things.'"
"That's all I really needed to hear — if I even needed to hear anything at all," he added.More than just an enforcer
Although Johnson is more popularly known for his quiet toughness, Carlisle stressed that he was a versatile player who caught his eye. He believed in the 6'7" forward so much that he traded for him in November 2020, when he was still the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
And when Carlisle sensed the Pacers were on the verge of taking the next step in their journey towards relevancy, he knew which player he had to acquire.
"Then I came to Indiana, and he was still playing somewhere — I forget where exactly — but going into our second year in Indiana, I told Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan, our president and GM, 'If we're looking for a great locker room guy to help this team grow, you may not believe this, but James Johnson is one of the best I've ever seen,'" he disclosed. "James had been in a lot of different places. He had become kind of a high-level journeyman player. And they were like, 'Really?' But we ended up bringing him in."
"James has been a huge part of our team's growth. He gives us a lot of substance, a lot of confidence, and strong leadership in the locker room," Rick emphasized.
Johnson hasn't seen much action on the court lately. Over three seasons with Indiana, he has appeared in just 39 regular-season games, averaging a modest 1.7 points and 1.0 rebound in six minutes per game.
Yet, his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. It's no coincidence that the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons. As a 16-year veteran, Johnson brings invaluable stability and leadership to the locker room and bench, enabling this young Indiana team to surpass expectations and compete at the highest level.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.