Dennis Johnson

Quick Facts

Full Name	Dennis Johnson
Occupation	Basketball Player
Date Of Birth	Sep 18, 1954(1954-09-18)
Age	70
Date Of Death	February 22, 2007, Austin, TX
Birthplace	Los Angeles
Country	United States
Birth City	California
Horoscope	Virgo

Dennis Johnson Biography

Dennis Johnson is one of the most popular and richest Basketball Player who was born on September 18, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Hall of Fame guard who led the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA Championship in 1979. He won two more NBA Championships as a member of the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and he was selected to five NBA All-Star teams over the course of his 14-year career.

He played alongside fellow Hall of Famer Larry Bird on the Celtics in the 1980s.

The Seattle SuperSonics took Johnson in the second round of the 1976 draft with the 29th pick and gave him a four-year contract, with which he earned a salary of $45,000 in the first year and $90,000 in the last. In his rookie year, the 1976–77 NBA season, Johnson, playing backup to the experienced Sonics backcourt tandem of Slick Watts and Fred Brown, averaged 9.2 points and 1.5 assists per game. The Sonics finished with a 40–42 record and missed the 1977 NBA Playoffs, leading head coach Bill Russell to resign. In the following season, the team lost 17 of the first 22 games under Russell’s replacement Bob Hopkins, who was replaced by Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens, who gave Johnson a starting spot and paired him with Gus Williams. Johnson revelled in this new role, improving his averages to 12.7 points and 2.8 assists per game. During this period Johnson played shooting guard and was known for his aggressive slam dunking, in contrast to the more cerebral roles he played later in his career. It was at this time that Johnson’s nickname “DJ” was coined by play-by-play announcer Bob Blackburn, to help distinguish him from teammates, John Johnson and Vinnie Johnson (whom Blackburn referred to as “JJ” and “VJ”, respectively).

At the end of his junior college career, two universities offered Johnson scholarships: Azusa Pacific University and Pepperdine University. Johnson chose the latter, and in his only year there, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, and developed a reputation for tough defense. After that year, Johnson made himself eligible for the 1976 NBA draft, but was skeptical that any team would take him. NBA teams were wary of drafting a player with character issues, and Johnson was known to be a troublemaker.

He married Donna Davis in 1976 and stayed with her until his death; they had three children together.

Dennis Johnson Net Worth

Dennis Johnson is one of the richest Basketball Player from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Dennis Johnson 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He worked as a forklift driver until a growth spurt allowed him to pursue basketball. After spending a season with Pepperdine’s basketball team, he was selected 29th overall by the SuperSonics in 1976.

His #3 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed “DJ”, was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. He was an alumnus of Dominguez High School, Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine University.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Dennis Johnson height 6 ft 4 in Dennis weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Dennis Johnson Dating?

According to our records, Dennis Johnson married to Donna Johnson. As of December 1, 2023, Dennis Johnson’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Dennis Johnson. You may help us to build the dating records for Dennis Johnson!

In the 1984–85 season, Johnson continued playing smothering defense, earning his next All-Defensive Second Team call-up while averaging 16.9 points and 7.3 assists per game. The Celtics met the Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals again. Johnson’s big moment came in Game 4: when the score was tied at 105, teammate Larry Bird had the ball in the last seconds. Being double-teamed by Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, Bird passed to the open Johnson, and the guard sank a 19-ft buzzer beater to win the game. The Lakers, however, took their revenge this time, winning the series in six games, powered by venerable 38-year-old Finals MVP Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson described this loss as one of the toughest in his career, because the Celtics were “close [to winning the series]”, but “could not get the job done”.

Facts & Trivia

Dennis Ranked on the list of most popular Basketball Player. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Dennis Johnson celebrates birthday on September 18 of every year.

In the following season the Celtics made the playoffs, helped by the performance of Johnson, who made the All-Defensive Second Team again while tallying 17.8 points and 6.7 assists per game. After defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics reached the 1986 NBA Finals against the up-and-coming Houston Rockets, led by the “Twin Towers” of centers Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon. Led by Finals MVP Larry Bird, the Celtics beat the Rockets 4–2, and Johnson won his third title.

What happened to Dennis Johnson?

Dennis Johnson died after coaching a practice with the Toros suffering from cardiac arrest on Feb. 22, 2007. He was 52 years old. Three years after his death, Johnson received a basketball player’s ultimate honor when he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.

Did Dennis Johnson pass away?

February 22, 2007

How old is Dennis Johnson?

52 years (1954–2007)

Who did Dennis Johnson play for NBA?

All teams

How tall is Dennis Johnson?

6′ 4″