FROM PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TO MASSAGE THERAPY

Kannard "KJ" Johnson is a six-foot, nine inch former professional basketball player that was a stand-out college player at Western Kentucky, a draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA, and a eight-time champion in Europe during his 12 year career overseas. Back injuries unfortunately shortened and hindered his playing career, but his injury was also his first introduction to his second career, and real passion in life: massage therapy. 

Johnson's story was recently featured in a local NBC news affiliate, KDLT in South Dakota. He worked in Las Vegas for 17 years before returning to his hometown of Sioux Falls where he took a job at Healing Touch Massage Clinic. Johnson couldn't be happier with his second career, despite it being such an unlikely career move for a former professional basketball player.

"It's a great way for me to help other people whether it's de-stressing them or helping them with injuries,  just to make them feel much better and be able to function much better throughout their day,” he said."My career has been great.  I love it.  It was a process that I had never saw myself doing. This is a new adventure for me.”

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

You can read the entire article on Johnson by clicking here.