AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 22, 2007
Former Celtics Star Dennis Johnson Dies
Five-Time NBA All-Star And 1979 NBA Finals MVP Was 52
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Boston Celtics' Dennis Johnson, right, drives the lane against the Los Angeles Lakers' Earvin "Magic" Johnson in this Dec. 12, 1986 file photo in Boston. Johnson, the star NBA guard who was part of three championship teams, died Thursday after collapsing at the end of practice in Austin, Texas. He was 52. (AP)
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Dennis Johnson, then interim coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, gives out intructions during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets on March 3, 2003. Johnson, a star NBA guard who was part of three championship teams, died Thursday at age 52. (AP)
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Johnson, who was part of three NBA champions with the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, had been coaching the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League.
"He is deceased and is in our building," said Mayra Freeman, a spokeswoman for the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office.
Johnson was born Sept. 18, 1954, in Compton, Calif. He played his college ball at Pepperdine and was drafted by Seattle in 1976. Johnson was traded to Phoenix in 1980 and Boston in 1983. He was part of three NBA championship teams and was named MVP of the Finals in 1979 while with Seattle. He also won titles with Boston in 1984 and 1986.
Johnson played 14 seasons, retiring after 1989-90. He averaged 14.1 points and 5.0 assists per game in his career. When he retired, he was the 11th player in NBA history to amass 15,000 points and 5,000 assists. Johnson was a five-time NBA All Star.
Johnson, who tended to play well in important games, earned a reputation as a competitive player.
"I'm a winner," he once said. "I put my heart into the game. I hate to lose. I accept it when it comes, but I still hate it. That's the way I am."
Johnson finished off one of the more famous plays in NBA playoff history. In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, Larry Bird stole an inbound pass and hit a streaking Johnson for the winning layup. The Celtics went on to win the series.
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- As a Celtics fan from way back, I hate to hear of this. D.J. was one of my favorites. He was one of the best clutch players ever. The Celtics and the fans could always count on him. Just like the rest of the Celtics, he didn't offer flash, just a beautiful game of team basketball.
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- sad to hear of his passing! ...we will miss you DJ! You helped bring the game to a higher level and set an example for all to follow!
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- He was great in the clutch. Great memories of Lakers-Celtics-Pistons battles in playoffs!
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- I was very sad to her about D.J. passing, I have been a Celtic fan since the Bill Russell era. Whenever a Celtic passes away it is so depressing to me because they are like family to me i grew up watching D.J. he was one of my favorite players to watch. The Celtics teams of the past the Bird era and before they became part of my life and i loved those guys because they gave me so many happy memories.
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