1985 Playoffs Dennis Johnson Steal vs Sixers

Lore & Background

Johnson overcame early struggles to have a successful NBA playing career. Drafted 29th overall in 1976 by the Seattle SuperSonics, he began as a shooting guard, led the Sonics to their only NBA championship in 1979, winning Finals MVP. After three seasons with the Suns, he became the starting point guard for the Celtics, winning two more championships. He 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 his No. 3 jersey. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 2010.

Reader's Guide

The 1985 Eastern Conference First Round was a best-of-five series. The Celtics lost to the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals (not the First Round) and did not advance to the Finals.

Did You Know?

• Johnson was drafted 29th overall in 1976, the lowest drafted player to win Finals MVP until surpassed by Nikola Jokić (41st overall) and Jalen Brunson (33rd overall).
• He blocked seven shots in Game 3 of the 1978 NBA Finals, the most blocks in NBA Finals history for a guard.
• Johnson's nickname "DJ" was coined by play-by-play announcer Bob Blackburn to distinguish him from teammates John Johnson and Vinnie Johnson.