It's only a game
The untold story that changed college sports.
Basketball is just the beginning. A true story of faith, perseverance, and the choices that define character.
Released September 2025
How you play matters more than the score
In It's Only a Game, Darrel Johnson takes you inside the highs, lows, and hard-fought lessons of life on and off the court. It is a story of faith, perseverance, and the choices that define character.
The book explores the intersection of faith and basketball through Darrel's personal journey. It is more than a sports story. It is a narrative about purpose, perseverance, and the power of faith, and it shows that how you play the game matters far more than the final score.
- Format
- Memoir
- Author
- Darrel Johnson
- Foreword
- Bill Self
- Released
- September 2025
- Themes
- Faith, basketball, perseverance, character
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What coaches, writers, and readers are saying
This story is more than just about the game itself and winning games and championships. It’s also a story about rising out of difficult circumstances and persevering through trials. Darrel is using his story to inspire and help others when the journey seems too long and too hard. It certainly has impacted me. This read is about hope, faith, inspiration and a road map for the trip to live a purposeful life.
What a story, and a great read! This deeply personal faith-based journey he writes about is amazingly inspiring! And, to top it off, I had no idea that he is such a high-quality writer and story teller! A must read truth-telling book by a guy who is as five-star as they come!
Darrel’s book is remarkably inspiring and can serve as an available tool for personal growth for anyone searching for a way back from the bottom of life. I’m proud to call him a friend and to have learned details of his miraculous comeback story for the ages.
Darrel honors God with this poignant, inspirational, and encouraging story. His perspective allows the reader to share experiences, look deeper into his or her own life, and be motivated to make good life decisions. Stories of a life journey like this are hardwired into our being.
Darrel’s story is much more than about the roller coaster we call life. He experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and through those experiences he became closer to God. This book is an inspiration to all of us on the importance of leading a faithful life.
Wow! It was incredible! His personal story of faith, obedience and overcoming adversity is relatable to everyone. Darrel’s message is powerful and inspiring to all.
About Darrel Johnson
Darrel Johnson’s career spans over four decades of transformative leadership in basketball, education, and nonprofit service. Beginning as a high school coach in Ada, Oklahoma, he quickly rose through the collegiate ranks, serving as assistant coach at Oklahoma State before leading programs at Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma City University, where he won two national championships and earned two National Coach of the Year honors, and Baylor University.
Transitioning into athletic administration, he served as Athletic Director at Woodlands Christian High School while also leading Home At Last Inc., a real estate initiative focused on community development. Johnson then embarked on a 20-year NBA career in scouting and player personnel, contributing to the Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Pelicans, LA Clippers, and Phoenix Suns.
In 2024, he retired from professional basketball and now serves as President and Chairman of the Board of WTL Adventures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to faith building men’s retreats and activities. His debut book, It’s Only a Game, released in September 2025.
- 5Conference Coach of the Year awards
- 2National Coach of the Year honors (NAIA)
- 2National championship teams at Oklahoma City University
- 54Game winning streak, longest active streak in men’s basketball
- 20Years in the NBA in scouting and player personnel
Honors
- Inducted into the Oklahoma City University Sports Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the Putnam City High School Sports Hall of Fame
- Coached three high school state championship teams
Coaching
- Baylor University, head coach, 1992 to 1994
- Oklahoma City University, head coach, 1990 to 1992
- Oklahoma Baptist University, head coach, 1985 to 1990
- Oklahoma State University, assistant coach, 1982 to 1985
- Ada (OK) High School, head coach, 1980 to 1982
NBA
- Phoenix Suns, senior evaluation analyst, 2023 to 2024
- LA Clippers, college scout and personnel, 2016 to 2022
- New Orleans Pelicans, college scout and personnel, 2010 to 2016
- Charlotte Bobcats, college scout and personnel, 2003 to 2009
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