Talking to a therapist, he mentioned that he had grown up around dogs, watching his mother’s two pups as she worked 12-hour days. The doctor said if he felt he could handle it, perhaps getting a dog for himself would help his anxiety.
Set up as part of his NIL package at Ohio State — yes, NIL can cover pets — it took a week to locate a puppy and soon Johnson was in the car throwing out potential names. Upon arrival, Nemo was in a cage with assorted other whelps.
“When I walked in there, I promise you, he was the only dog that ran up to me and started peeing on my foot,” Johnson said. “I still took him.”
Johnson said he didn’t want a big dog but fell for Nemo’s friendly air and tremendous energy. The dog has grown into an institution around the Carolina Coliseum practice courts, CLA and 650 Lincoln, passersby often seeing Johnson walking Nemo around the complex.
“It’s the only reason I know Meechie’s up,” coach Lamont Paris said. “I know he loves that dog because I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve seen him walking that dog early in the morning on a day that we’re off. Because otherwise he would be sleeping in.”
Jevarra Martin, a freshman on USC’s baseball team, looks after Nemo when Johnson is away on business, like the Gamecocks’ trip to Arkansas on Saturday. Otherwise, Nemo is usually with Johnson, able to fly with him or running around the Coliseum while Johnson is getting in a late-night shooting session.
“He is officially an emotional support animal. I asked for that, because he was recommended through a therapist,” Johnson said. “He came with me on my visit here. I told coach, ‘If I come, he’s coming with me.’”
Excitable for friends old and new, the rest of the Gamecocks love him. B.J. Mack’s dog, Queen, has become a close pal; they’re still working on Nemo getting to know the cats that Josh Gray keeps.
Play for Pops
Johnson and Nemo also share kinship through tragedy. Johnson elected to participate in NBA Draft prep during the last offseason, figuring he was a longshot to actually get picked but taking advantage of the rules the Combine offers — come see how you measure up, but still retain eligibility. During those two months, Nemo stayed with Johnson’s grandparents in Ohio.
