Good Sports: Tyler Johnson

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Former Fresno State basketball player Tyler Johnson embodies the motto Bulldog born, Bulldog bred. Undrafted after his senior year in 2014, Johnson took advantage of opportunities in the NBA Summer League and NBA Developmental League to catch the Miami Heat's attention.

"He's been in our program now for over a year. He's relentless with his work ethic and now he's thrust into an every night role," said Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra.

Johnson added, "I'm learning a lot, I'm getting a chance to experience things that a lot of people wish they were."

For as long as Johnson could remember he wanted to play basketball and in that process Tyler had to write a very special letter to the Golden State Warriors.

"I was in like 6th or 7th grade. I was trying to get into the Warriors camp, so my mom suggested that I write a letter to them to see if I could get in because I couldn't pay for it. They wrote me back and they said they could absolutely get me in," said Johnson.

"He got camp MVP. He was the most excited kid, he wrote the letter and in it he had wrote about how he wanted to go to college and play basketball. Although as growing up he always talked about going in the NBA was his dream, so it's great to see the dream," said Tyler's mother Jennifer.

As fate would have it, Johnson a Bay Area native, made his NBA debut in his backyard against the Warriors.

"I've said it before it's like you are living your dream. The thing that you talked about when you were a young kid, what you wanted to be you know I'm getting a chance to be it."