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R.I.P. Dennis Johnson...MARKOTA UPDATE: 21.8min/7.5pts/5.0rebs
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 unique 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 recruited for the NBA in the second round of the draft.
13 JOHNSONS PLAYING THE GAME VIDEO (1984.)..
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 in the job with the Flame finishing the season in last place. Johnson then became the head coach of a new NBA D-League team, Austin Toros, a position he held until his death at age 52.
NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (23/02/07)..
Basketball legend Larry Bird viewed him as one of his favorite teammates, probably due to Johnson's unselfishness and intelligence on the court. Bird even called Johnson "the best I've ever played with."
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.
1987 CELTICS vs. PISTONS GAME 5 - BIRD'S STEAL..
On February 22, 2007, at the Austin Convention Center, Johnson had a heart attack and collapsed at the end of the Toros' practice. He could not be revived and was later pronounced dead. Johnson is survived by his wife, Donna, sons Dwayne and Daniel, and a daughter, Denise.
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Post je objavljen 24.02.2007. u 09:10 sati.