Mickey Johnson

Rubberman: A versatile scorer and aggressive rebounder who played for five NBA teams.

Wallace Edgar "Mickey" Johnson (born August 31, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Quick Facts

Born: 31 August 1952
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
High school: Lindblom Technical (Chicago, Illinois)
College: Aurora (1970–1974)
Draft round: 4
Draft pick: 56
Drafted by: Portland Trail Blazers
Career number: 8, 3

Lore & Background

After graduating from Chicago's Lindblom High School and playing collegiately at tiny Aurora College, the 6' 10" forward/center was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth round of the 1974 NBA draft. The Blazers immediately traded Johnson to the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 17.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in 1976–77. On April 17, 1977, in a first round loss against Portland, Johnson scored a playoff career-high 34 points and added 14 rebounds.

The following season, he averaged 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds. In 1979, he signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers, averaging a career-high 19.1 points. On January 30, 1980, Johnson scored 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in a 119–120 loss against the Washington Bullets. On February 14, 1980, he set a career high with 6 blocks in a 118–114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On September 11, 1980, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. During the 1981 NBA Playoffs, Johnson led Milwaukee to a Game 6 win with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals. In Game 7, the Bucks lost 99–98. During the 1982 NBA Playoffs, on April 25, 1982, Johnson scored 28 points and recorded 4 steals in a Game 1 loss against the 76ers.

He also played for the New Jersey Nets and Golden State Warriors. On March 10, 1983, while on the Warriors, Johnson recorded a triple double with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 119–109 win over the Houston Rockets. He retired in 1986 with 12,748 career points and 6,465 career rebounds. He later became the head men's basketball coach at Malcolm X College in Chicago.

In 2015, Johnson unsuccessfully ran for alderman from Chicago's 24th Ward. He was a finalist for an appointment to fill a vacancy for the same office in 2022. In 2017, Johnson described Colin Kaepernick as a "patriot."

Reader's Guide

He was called "Rubberman" by teammates due to his ability to stretch and grab rebounds and block shots despite his slender frame. He played for the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, and Golden State Warriors. He and teammate Marques Johnson were the first two players in NBA history to have their full first and last names displayed on their jerseys.