Dennis Johnson

Defensive stopper and three-time NBA champion who rose from a late draft pick to Finals MVP.

Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics. He was a coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and attended Dominguez High School, Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine University.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 September 1954
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died: 22 February 2007
Place of death: Austin, Texas, U.S.
High school: Dominguez (Compton, California)
College: LA Harbor College (1973–1975); Pepperdine (1975–1976)
Draft year: 1976
Draft round: 2

Lore & Background

Johnson overcame early struggles to have a successful NBA playing career. Drafted 29th overall in 1976 by the Seattle SuperSonics, Johnson began his professional career as a shooting guard. He eventually led the Sonics to their only NBA championship in 1979, winning the Finals MVP Award. After three seasons with the Phoenix Suns, he became the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics, with whom he won two more championships. Johnson was voted into five All-Star Teams, one All-NBA First and one Second Team, and nine consecutive All-Defensive First and Second Teams. Known as a defensive stopper, he retired with a 17.2% three-point shooting percentage, the lowest of any NBA player with at least 200 attempts. The Celtics retired Johnson's No. 3 jersey, which hangs from the rafters of the TD Garden. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted Johnson posthumously in 2010.

Reader's Guide

Johnson was born the eighth of 16 children in Compton, California. He grew to 6'3" after high school and developed strong jumping ability. At Los Angeles Harbor College, he averaged 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, leading the team to a junior college state title. He was thrown off the team three times in two years. He then attended Pepperdine University for one year, averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, and entered the 1976 NBA draft. The Seattle SuperSonics drafted him 29th overall. He played shooting guard for Seattle and Phoenix, then point guard for Boston. He won NBA Finals MVP in 1979. He retired after the 1989–90 season.

Did You Know?

Johnson was the lowest drafted player to win NBA Finals MVP until surpassed by Nikola Jokić and Jalen Brunson.
He blocked seven shots in a 1978 NBA Finals game, the most blocks in Finals history for a guard.
Johnson's nickname "DJ" was coined by announcer Bob Blackburn to distinguish him from teammates John Johnson and Vinnie Johnson.
He missed all 14 field goal attempts in Game 7 of the 1978 Finals, a game he later said he 'choked' in.