1985 Playoffs Dennis Johnson Steal vs Sixers
Defensive stopper and three-time NBA champion
Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics. He was a coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and an alumnus of Dominguez High School, Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine University.
- Event
- 1985 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 5
- Location
- Boston Garden
- Key Player
- Dennis Johnson (Celtics)
- Opponent
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Outcome
- Celtics win series 3-2; advance to Finals
- Season Context
- 1984-85 NBA Season
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. He 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 his No. 3 jersey, which hangs from the rafters of the TD Garden. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted Johnson posthumously in 2010.
In Their Own Story
The clock ticked down, the Garden shaking with the roar of thousands. Julius Erving, the Drifter himself, looked for his outlet pass as the Sixers tried to escape the trap. Dennis Johnson, eyes locked on the ball, anticipated the throw before it left Erving's hands. In a flash of green and white, he pounced, snatching the leather from thin air. The buzzer sounded not with a shot, but with a roar of disbelief and triumph as the Celtics held their ground.
Reader's Guide
The 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals featured a memorable steal by Dennis Johnson against the Philadelphia 76ers. The series was a best-of-seven, and the play occurred in Game 5. Johnson was not named NBA Finals MVP in 1985; he won that award in 1979 with the Seattle SuperSonics. Johnson won three NBA championships: one with the Sonics (1979) and two with the Celtics (1984, 1986).
Did You Know?
- Johnson was drafted 29th overall in 1976, the lowest drafted player to win 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 play-by-play announcer Bob Blackburn to distinguish him from teammates John Johnson and Vinnie Johnson.
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