Avery Johnson

Little General who led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals

Avery DeWitt Johnson (born March 25, 1965) is an American basketball television commentator, former player and coach who previously served as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. He is an NBA and college basketball analyst for CBS Sports. Johnson spent 16 years in the National Basketball Association as a player, and subsequently served as the head coach of two NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and to three consecutive 50+ win seasons. During his playing days, Johnson was known as the "Little General" for his small stature (by NBA standards), his leadership skills as a point guard, and his close friendship with former San Antonio Spurs teammate David Robinson.

Quick Facts

Born

25 March 1965

Birthplace

New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

College

New Mexico JC (1983–1984)
Cameron (1984–1985)
Southern (1986–1988)

Career position

Point guard

Career number

15, 6, 5

Coach end

2019

Lore & Background

Johnson played 22 games (all as a reserve) with the Mavericks in the 2001–02 season after being traded from the Denver Nuggets. In the 2002–03 season, he played 49 games as a reserve for the Mavericks, averaging 9.0 minutes per game. On December 31, 2006, Johnson became the fastest head coach (at the time) to win 100 games when his squad defeated the Denver Nuggets. This record was later broken by Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls.

Reader's Guide

Johnson's coaching tenure with the Mavericks began on March 19, 2005, after Don Nelson resigned. He led the team to a 16–2 finish in the 2004–05 season and a first-round playoff victory over the Houston Rockets. In 2005–06, he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award, coached the Western Conference All-Star team, and led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to the Miami Heat in six games. In 2006–07, the Mavericks had the best record in the NBA (67 wins) but lost to the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round. After a first-round elimination in 2007–08, Johnson was dismissed on April 30, 2008.

Did You Know?

Johnson was not selected in the NBA draft after graduating in 1988.
He made the championship-clinching shot for the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals.
Johnson's number 6 was retired by the Spurs on December 22, 2007.
He was the fastest NBA coach to reach 50 wins (50–12 record on January 28, 2006).