Johnson split his time between two teams in 2018-19. He began the year with the Pistons, the team that drafted him eighth overall in 2015. After starting 50 games the prior campaign, Johnson was moved to the bench by the Pistons last season. With Detroit, he averaged 7.5 points and 1.0 steal per contest. Arguably his best game with the Pistons was a 21-point, seven-rebound performance in a win over Denver on Feb. 4. Three days later, however, Detroit dealt Johnson to the Pelicans. He played 18 games with New Orleans in a reserve role. Johnson averaged 13.7 minutes and 5.3 points per contest with his new squad. His highest-scoring game with the Pelicans came against Orlando on March 20 when Johnson tallied 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He nearly matched that total in the final game of the season, scoring 17 points and making 2-of-4 shots from three-point range.

Johnson's third year proved to be the best of his career. The power forward started a career-high 50 games for Detroit, and averaged 8.7 points while grabbing 3.7 rebounds per contest. On Dec. 4 against San Antonio, Johnson recorded his first double-double in two years, a 14-point, 10-rebound display that kept things tight in a three-point Pistons loss. He did it again against Cleveland on Jan. 30, scoring a career-high 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in an 11-point Detroit win. Johnson continued his stellar play on offense when he finished with 19 points while dishing four assists and grabbing five boards in an April 4 showdown with Philadelphia. The 2017-18 season proved to be the former lottery pick's last full year in Detroit. He'd be shipped off to New Orleans midway through the next season.

Johnson's second season was a lot like his first. The young power forward spent much of the season coming off the bench, starting just once, and averaged a respectable 4.4. points and 2.5 rebounds with Detroit. His best game of the season came against Indiana on March 8. Johnson scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists against Indiana. That season, the Pistons finished just two spots out of the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern Conference, and Johnson played a role in some meaningful games down the stretch.

The eighth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona, Stanley Johnson spent his rookie year learning the ropes of the NBA and providing valuable scoring off the bench for the Pistons. He made his NBA debut on Opening Night Oct. 27, and scored seven points while grabbing four rebounds in a 12-point win over the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson broke out in a big way on Nov. 9 against Golden State, scoring 20 points and adding seven rebounds in a close loss to the Warriors. Weeks later on Nov. 30, Johnson recorded his first career double-double, a 19-point, 10-assist show of dominance against the Houston Rockets. The Pistons won by 11. He made his first career start Jan. 9 against Brooklyn, scoring eight points while four rebounds as the Pistons won by 14. Johnson ended up featuring in 73 games as a rookie, starting six of them and recording three double-doubles. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, making him a credible scoring threat for an upstart Detroit team.