Kevin Johnson

Kevin Maurice Johnson , called KJ, is a former player of American tennis shoe born on March 4th, 1966 with Sacramento, California.

With the departure intended to play Baseball, Kevin Johnson is drafté by the team of MLB Oakland Athletics into 1986 before raviser to devote itself to the tennis shoe. It arrives in NBA in 1987 pennies the shirt of the Cavaliers of Cleveland before passing nearly 12 seasons to the Suns de Phoenix which it will lead in particular to the final NBA 1993. After a first sporting retirement, it will drive back the parquet floors during some matches to take over temporarily the duties carries out of Suns during the wound of Jason Kidd. KJ also is recognized and appreciated for its many caritative activities. Its number of shirt, the 7, was withdrawn by the team of Arizona.

Biography

Kevin Johnson finishes her course with Berkeley with a real statute of star who will be worth to him to be selected by Cleveland with the 7th rank of the draft 1987. In 3 years in California, he became the best marker of the history of the university (1655 points), better frontier runner (521) and interceptor (155) and allowed itself to sign first double triple of the history of the Pacific-10 conference. On her arrival in Cavs, Johnson tastes with the competition of the leader All-Star Mark Price and only plays very little. The weakness of the interior play of the frankness from Cleveland (worse team of the league to the rebounds) encourages the leaders to assemble an operation of exchange. Kevin Johnson takes the direction of Phoenix in company of Mark West and Tyrone Corbin, while Larry Nance makes the opposite way. Saving a time of more important play, KJ sees its statistical lines inflating quickly. It passes from 7,3 points and 3,7 master keys in 52 matches for Cavs to 12,6 points and 8,7 master keys in 28 meetings with Suns. It also signs 3 triple-double and is indicated Rookie off the Month (initial player of the month) in April 1988.

The beautiful things seen at the time of its season of rookie are confirmed in 1988-89. KJ becomes the 5th player of the history of the NBA to be turned to more than 20 points and 10 master keys per match behind names as prestigious as Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Oscar Robertson and Nate Archibald. Its 20,4 points and 12,2 master keys of average are worth to him to be elected Most Improved Player (player having progressed more) and a selection in the All-NBA Second TEAM (the 2nd standard team of the league). It establishes a record of the frankness by delivering 21 master keys in a match. Suns carry out an excellent season and fail only finally of conference vis-a-vis the Lakers of Los Angeles. In 1989-90, KJ obtains the first of its 3 selections to the All-Star Range and is seen again honoured by a place in the 2nd standard team with the league. It carries out a full springtide with 22,5 points, 11,4 master keys and a record at 44 points marked in a match. Suns are still eliminated finally from Conference by Trail Blazers of Portland cement.

Its third complete season with Suns will be probably its more accomplished. It is number 1 of the frankness at the items (22,2), master keys (10,1) and interceptions (2,1) and places itself in signal 15 of the league in each one of these categories. It is selected at the sides of Magic Johnson for the AlStar Range and is again named in the AlNBA TEAM Second. A wound prevents KJ from playing the playoffs at 100% what involves the premature elimination of the team whose offensive sector idles (95,8 points of average against 114 in regular season). With 19,7 points and 10,7 master keys in 1991-92, Kevin Johnson misses by little a fourth consecutive season with more than 20 points and 10 master keys. Under the impulse of Jeff Hornacek and Tom Chambers, Suns finish with a satisfying assessment of 53 victories for 29 defeats but are inclined again quickly in playoffs.

1992-93 are one particular season for KJ. Whereas it misses 31 meetings on wound and that it is satisfied with 16.1 points and 7.8 master keys per match, Suns carry out one fabulous season. The arrival of Charles Barkley propels Phoenix on the roof of the NBA with an assessment of 62 victories for only 20 defeats. The magic duet of Suns makes wonder in playoffs but cannot prevent the final victory of the Chicago bulldozers of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 6 handles. KJ signs nevertheless a record NBA with 62 minutes played at the time of match 3 of the final series.

The wounds do not save it in 1993-94. KJ disputes only 67 meetings but carries out a great season. Its 20 points and 9,5 master keys of averages are worth to him a third selection with the AlStar Range and a new nomination in the AlNBA TEAM Second. He becomes the 16th player of the history to intercept 10 balloons in a match and carries the record of the frankness to 25 master keys in a meeting. Suns do not republish the exploit of the previous year and are inclined in 7 sleeves vis-a-vis the future champions, the Houston Rockets. KJ is selected for the championships of the world 1994 that the USA gain. It disputes the 2 following seasons in dotted lines because of new wounds. April 2nd, 1996, Kevin Johnson becomes the 23e player of the history of the NBA to cross the bar of the 11000 points and 5000 master keys in career.

In December 1996, Suns accommodate Jason Kidd coming from the Dallas Mavericks. KJ carries out nevertheless one formidable season at the station of second back with 20,1 points and 9,3 master keys per match while its association with Kidd (9 master keys) made wonder. It signs an new agreement with the frankness for the season 1997-98 announced as being its last. He sees his time play to largely decrease but enters once again the history of the NBA by taking seat to the 10th rank of the most prolific frontier runners. In spring 1998, KJ withdraws parquet floors after an elimination with the first turn of the playoffs vis-a-vis the Spurs de San Antonio. In March 2000, is nearly 2 years after the advertisement of its sporting retirement, KJ reappears under the shirt of Suns. It decides to lend strong hand to its team of always for stage the absence of wounded Kidd. It carries out a measuring rod of 15 matches between the end of season and the playoffs while Suns have gained their first series for 5 years before falling vis-a-vis Lakers to the 2nd turn.

Number 7 of Kevin Johnson, since, was withdrawn by the frankness.

Successive clubs

1987 - February 1988:
February 1988 - 1998:
March 2000 - April 2000:

Prize list

3 participations in the AlStar Range (1990, 91,94)
Elected in the AlNBA Second TEAM (2nd standard team of the league) in 1989,90,91 and 94
Elected in the AlNBA Third TEAM (3rd standard team of the league) in 1992
Gold medal with the championship of the world 1994 with the USA
One of the 4 players of the history of the NBA to have aligned more than 20 points and 10 master keys during 3 seasons
Its shirt number 7 was withdrawn by the Suns Phoenixes in 2001

Statistics in career: 17,9 points/3,3 rebounds/9,1 master keys in 735 matches of regular season (+ 105 in playoffs)

External bond

Statistical detailed on basketball-reference.com

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