Kevin Johnson (basketball)
Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4, 1966 in Sacramento, California) is a former American NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns. Originally drafted from high school to play professional baseball with the Oakland Athletics as a pitcher, Johnson chose to play basketball instead, and was drafted for the 1987-88 season by the Cavs.
On February 28 1988, Johnson and teammate Mark West were traded to the Suns, where he averaged 18.8 points and 9.5 assists a game for the next 10 years. He became an NBA All Star three times and was part of a team that made it to the playoffs every year he was there.
Johnson teamed up with Charles Barkley in 1992, and with Barkley, who won the MVP that year, Johnson and the Suns posted the NBA's best record at 62-20. The Suns made it to the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls but lost in six games. Johnson, however was praised for his stellar defense of Michael Jordan throughout the series.
Johnson retired after the 1997-1998 season, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest playmakers in league history.
Johnson returned briefly during the 1999-2000 campaign, helping the Suns win their first playoff series in five years (and their only series victory between 1995 and 2005). But after Phoenix fell in the second round to Los Angeles, he retired for the second and final time.
In 2001, Johnson had his number 7 jersey retired during a game where the Suns lost to the Sacramento Kings, Johnson's hometown team.
While he was a Suns player, he would often sign free autographs at mall autograph shows. During his time with the Suns, he opened St. Hope Academy, a school for inner-city children in his hometown of Sacramento.
Trivia
- His nickname is KJ.
- His most famous highlight was a dunk over Houston Rockets' center Hakeem Olajuwon.
- Kevin played all of Game 3 of the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls, which went into triple-overtime, lasting 62 minutes.
- Did you know he is a wanker and nobody likes him