North Carolina put up an all-out stand against Kansas in the NCAA title game on Monday night. Perhaps no other moment clearly personified that than Puff Johnson's vomit incident in the second half.
With just a little over four minutes left, and Kansas leading by two points, Johnson got hit in the stomach and fell to the floor. As he was struggling to get up, he threw up—all for the world to see.
Of course, the shocking development became a hot topic on Twitter. Some couldn't help but joke about it.
https://twitter.com/NBAMemes/status/1511184162212171780
Puff Johnson after carrying UNC in the 2nd half pic.twitter.com/cnVdjOj8Vx
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson getting PT for the first time pic.twitter.com/8U730UUTLt
— mitch (@MitchCLE) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson pic.twitter.com/4tVIjB0cBR
— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson 🤝 Me after 0.5 mile on the treadmill pic.twitter.com/DN9TDuNJhC
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) April 5, 2022
But while some made fun of Johnson, the majority of the tweets were more impressed with the North Carolina guard. He almost singlehandedly kept the Tar Heels in the game in the second half. Some pointed out that him puking was a true sign that he was playing his guts out.
Puff Johnson is literally playing so hard for North Carolina he throwing up on the court, maximum effort pic.twitter.com/1BImbcX1De
— The NBA Expert (@RealNBAExpert) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson has gone from no playing time to potentially a cult hero. He’s made three huge plays that has this game tied.
— Jonathon Warriner (@Bracketologist3) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson, this is your life.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson showed me something tonight though. Can’t wait to see him hoop next year.
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) April 5, 2022
Puff Johnson leaving it all on the court in the #NationalChampionship gamehttps://t.co/eIsQL33yHG
— BetAnySports (@betanysportsEU) April 5, 2022
The left-handed Johnson, the younger brother of Phoenix Suns forward and former North Carolina standout Cam Johnson, finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, providing the much-needed spunk for the Tar Heels.
Unfortunately for North Carolina, Kansas completed a furious fightback in the second half to steal the victory for its fourth NCAA title.
Throwing up during a game (NBA legend Bill Russell did it often) might be a bit embarrassing, but Johnson just became a legend for it.