Dennis Johnson
The defensive stopper who won Finals MVP and three NBA championships.
via Wikipedia: Dennis Johnson · see source
Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics in the NBA, and later coached the Los Angeles Clippers. Johnson was drafted 29th overall in 1976 by the SuperSonics and led them to their only NBA championship in 1979, winning Finals MVP. He won two more championships with the Celtics, was voted into five All-Star Teams, and made nine consecutive All-Defensive First and Second Teams. The Celtics retired his No. 3 jersey, and he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
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 career. After being 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, winning two more championships. Known as a defensive stopper, he retired with a 17.2% three-point shooting percentage, though several other players with at least 200 attempts have posted lower percentages. Johnson was a coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Reader's Guide
Johnson played for the Seattle SuperSonics (1976–1980), Phoenix Suns (1980–1983), and Boston Celtics (1983–1990). He was a coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. In Seattle, he was a shooting guard known for aggressive slam dunking. In Phoenix, he played shooting guard and became the main scorer. In Boston, he changed to point guard, defined by playmaking. He was voted into five All-Star Teams, one All-NBA First Team and one Second Team, and nine consecutive All-Defensive First and Second Teams. The Celtics retired his No. 3 jersey, which hangs in TD Garden. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 2010.
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).
- He blocked seven shots in a 1978 NBA Finals game, 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 teammate John Johnson ('JJ').
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