Dennis Johnson

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Dennis Johnson

Position	Guard
Nickname	DJ
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	182 lb (83 kg)
Nationality	United States
Born	September 18, 1954 Compton, California
Died	February 22, 2007 (aged 52) Austin, Texas
College	Pepperdine
Draft	2nd round, 29th overall, 1976 Seattle SuperSonics
Pro career	1976–1990
Former teams	Seattle SuperSonics (1976–1980) Phoenix Suns (1980–1983) Boston Celtics (1983–1990)
Awards	5-Time NBA All-Star 1979 NBA Finals MVP

Dennis Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player and coach.

Born in Compton, California, Johnson was drafted out of Pepperdine University by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976. He quickly established himself as one of the best all-around guards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Easily recognizable by his uncommon appearance for an African American (reddish hair and freckles), he was widely regarded as one of the fiercest defensive players in professional basketball. He was also a smart and precise passer and could score, despite a somewhat unreliable jump shot. Johnson's success in the NBA was not a sure thing as he was hardly a standout player in high school, although his tenacity playing street basketball was enough to impress a recruiter at a junior college. After success in junior college, Johnson was recruited by Pepperdine, and Johnson was once again surprised when he was drafted for the NBA in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft.

Johnson won a title with the SuperSonics in 1979, beating the Washington Bullets in the Finals. Johnson was named MVP of the 1979 Finals after averaging 22.6 points, 6 rebounds and assists while adding 1.8 steals and 2.2 blocks. After a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns, during which he was selected once to the All-NBA First Team, he joined the Boston Celtics who needed a point guard capable of defending Magic Johnson. In Boston, he teamed with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, and Robert Parish on the Celtics teams of the 1980s, winning two NBA championships (1984, 1986). In his career, Johnson played in five NBA All-Star games, and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times and the All-Defensive Second Team three times.

He was hired as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002, replacing Alvin Gentry, but was fired after an 8–16 record. In 2004, he became the first head coach for the Florida Flame in the then-named National Basketball Development League. He resigned after one year on the job with the Flame finishing the season in last place.^[1] Johnson then became the head coach of a new NBA D-League team, the Austin Toros, a position he held until his death at age 52.^[2]

Contents 1 Seattle Supersonics 2 The Boston Years 3 DJ and Larry Bird 4 Arrest 5 Death 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Seattle Supersonics

Dennis Johnson was drafted out of Pepperdine University in the second round of the 1976 NBA draft by the Seattle Supersonics after declaring himself a hardship case (Johnson was the 9th of 16 children). His first coach, the legendary Bill Russell, saw promise in the young Johnson and gave him 1600+ minutes of playing time his rookie season.

The following year, under new coach Bob Hopkins, the Sonics got off to a rocky start. After a 5-17 beginning, Hopkins was fired and Lenny Wilkens was hired as the new coach. Wilkens immediately revamped the backcourt, benching starting point guard Donald "Slick" Watts in favor of 24 year old Gus Williams and pairing him with Johnson, relegating Fred Brown as the first guard off the bench. These moves by Wilkens immediately ignited the team, as they went 42-18 the rest of the year. The Sonics them went on to nearly win the NBA Finals, losing in 7 games to the Champion Washington Bullets. Johnson had a terrible game 7, missing all 14 of his field goal attempts.

Nevertheless, Johnson proved himself to be a valued floor leader and a tremendous defensive player. As if on a mission to make amends, Johnson led the Sonics the following season to 52 regular season games and return visit to the NBA Finals, this time winning it as Johnson was selected the MVP, averaging 22.6 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists a game against the Bullets and playing smothering defense.

Shortly after that, Johnson and coach Wilkens had a falling out, with Wilkens going so far as to call Johnson "a cancer". He was then traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1981 for All-Star guard Paul Westphal. Johnson rewarded the Suns by making first team All-NBA in 1981 and taking them to 57 regular season wins, the best total in franchise history to that point.

[edit] The Boston Years

The Boston Celtics had a disappointing season in 1983. Recognizing the need for a big guard to neutralize the likes of Sidney Moncrief and Andrew Toney, Celtics GM Red Auerbach pulled off a stunning trade by moving backup center Rick Robey and 2 second round draft picks to the Suns for Johnson, a 1st and a 3rd round pick.

Johnson was just what the doctor ordered for the Celtics, as they went on to win the title that year, with Johnson neutralizing Earvin "Magic" Johnson in the latter part of the Finals with his stellar defense and savvy floor game.

Johnson won one more title with Boston, after winning 67 regular season games in 1986, with what is widely considered the finest team in NBA history. Johnson was again outstanding in the final series against the Houston Rockets, throttling guard Robert Reid with smothering defense and running the Celtics halfcourt offense to perfection with teammate Bird. Johnson averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

[edit] DJ and Larry Bird

Basketball legend Larry Bird counts Johnson among his favorite teammates, perhaps due to Johnson's unselfishness and intelligence on the court. Bird has called Johnson "the best I've ever played with."^[2]

The two players connected on a very special occasion. During Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics were in a difficult position when the opposing Detroit Pistons had a one-point lead and the possession with few seconds remaining to play. However, Bird managed to steal Isiah Thomas's pass to Bill Laimbeer and fed a dashing Johnson, who made a difficult lay-up to give Boston a decisive lead. Boston eventually won the series in seven games.

Legendary Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most called the action on this play:

“

...and...now there's a steal by Bird! Underneath to DJ who lays it in!!...Right at one second left! What a play by Bird!! Bird stole the inbounding pass, laid it up to DJ, and DJ laid it up and in, and Boston has a one-point lead with one second left! Oh, my, this place is going crazy!!! [3]

”

[edit] Arrest

On October 21, 1997, Johnson was arrested and later charged with aggravated assault for a domestic incident in which Johnson allegedly held a knife to his wife's throat. While Johnson was holding a knife in front of his wife's face, his son tried to intervene. Johnson allegedly told his son "I'll Knock you out." In fear of his father, Johnson's son ran next door and asked a neighbor to call 911. When his son returned home and saw that things had calmed down, he called 911 himself. The Orange County, Florida police responded and Dennis was arrested. His wife, Donna Johnson, was not injured in the incident. ^[4][5]

[edit] Death

On February 22, 2007, at the Austin Convention Center, Johnson had a heart attack and collapsed at the end of the Toros' practice.^[6] After being rushed to a nearby hospital, he could not be revived and was later pronounced dead. Many collegues and former teammates, including Cedric Maxwell, said that Johnson had put on a great deal of weight since his retirement. Maxwell estimated that Johnson "had to be...320-something pounds."^[7] Johnson is survived by his wife, Donna, sons Dwayne and Daniel, and daughter, Denise.^[8]

[edit] External links

• NBA.com History player file: Dennis Johnson
• NBA.com History player detail: Dennis Johnson
• An NBA.com Interview with Dennis Johnson and NBA reporter Mike Slane
• NBA.com Remembering Coach Johnson

[edit] References

Preceded by Alvin Gentry

Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach 2003

Succeeded by Mike Dunleavy