Johan was born in Paris, France, but he spent his formative years on the Carribean island of Guadeloupe.

In October 2004, he spoke to HoopsHype.com about growing up there, and how he came to the game of basketball.

JP: Yes, I started playing in Guadeloupe. I started playing for a team called Baie Mahault.

HoopsHype: How did you start playing?

JP: I was tall, so everybody started telling me that I had to play basketball. But the truth is I was not very interested in basketball at the beginning. I was more into soccer, karate and other things.

HoopsHype: How different was life in Guadeloupe to life in France for you?

JP: There are differences. The main difference is that there's more sun there. And also the lifestyle, the rhythm of life is very different.

THE ISLANDS
Guadeloupe is located in the middle of the Carribean, approximately 3,100 miles southeast from Denver, Colorado, home of Johan's current team, the Nuggets.

The approximate location of Guadeloupe appears in red (Google Maps)l

The two main islands of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre and Grande Terre, form the shape of a butterfly -- you can actually see the two islands in the collage on the home page of this site. Grand-Terre, the eastern island, is known for its beaches and the fun that goes with them.

As described on LonelyPlanet.com:

“From surfing schools to beach bars to long stretches of beautiful sand where azure water laps at the toes of French mademoiselles, it’s all here.”

Basse-Terre is something of a contrast. Home to a natural park and a volcano, it attracts outdoor adventurers, though the island does still have its share of places to dine and relax.

The smaller islands -- La Desirade, Les Saintes, and Marie-Galante -- each offer a different and unique world to visitors looking for something off the beaten path (if there is such a thing in the middle of the ocean).

A SHORT HISTORY
Originally ruled by a fierce tribe of warriors known as the Caribs, Christopher Columbus arrived at the groups of islands in the 15th century, and named them in honor of a Spanish monastery. Over the next two centuries, Guadeloupe would come under French control, and today, it is considered an “overseas department,” sending its own elected officials to the National Assembly in France.