[LSC9901]

Former Celtic star Dennis Johnson is reported to have died today at age 52.

[simple simon]

AUSTIN, Texas -- Former NBA star Dennis Johnson died Thursday, the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office said. He was 52.

Johnson, who was part of three NBA champions, two with the Boston Celtics and one with the Seattle SuperSonics, had been coaching the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League.

The cause of death is not known.

ESPN.com - NBA - Former Celtics guard Dennis Johnson dies at 52

its too bad, he was young

there was just talk about him going into the HOF soon

[ThePundit]

Only 52 - Way too young. He was a hell of a player. That's what the NBA needs more of - a guy who played the game the right way.

[LSC9901]

Dennis Johnson, the star NBA guard who was part of three championship teams and combined with Larry Bird in one of the great postseason plays, died Thursday after collapsing at the end of practice while coaching a developmental team. He was 52.

Johnson, coach of the Austin Toros, was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at Austin Convention Center, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
Paramedics tried to resuscitate him for 23 minutes before he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, Hassinger added. Mayra Freeman, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said there will be autopsy.
The Toros postponed home games Friday and Saturday nights, the NBA Development League said.
Johnson, a five-time All-Star and one of the top defensive guards, was part of the last Boston Celtics dynasty. He spent 14 seasons in the league and retired after the 1989-90 season. He played on title teams with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986 and with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, when he was the NBA finals MVP.
"Whether he was leading his teams to NBA championships or teaching young men the meaning of professionalism, Dennis Johnson's contributions to the game went far beyond the basketball court," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "Dennis was a man of extraordinary character with a tremendous passion for the game."
Johnson was a favorite teammate of Bird's, and the two were part of one of the most memorable plays in Celtics history.
During the fifth game of the 1987 Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, Bird stole Isiah Thomas' inbounds pass under Boston's basket and fed Johnson, who drove in for the winning layup. Boston won the series in seven games but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals.
"Dennis was a great player, one of the best teammates I ever had, and a wonderful person," said Bird, now president of the Indiana Pacers. "My thoughts and condolences are with his family at this difficult time."
Bill Laimbeer, the center on that Pistons team, remembered Johnson as a "great player on a great ballclub."
"He played with passion and grit," Laimbeer said. "It was fun to play games like that. You always enjoyed it. It made for not only great games, but great entertainment."
In the 1984 finals, Johnson guarded Magic Johnson effectively in the last four games. In 1985, he hit a last-second jumper against Los Angeles that won the fourth game. In 1986, he was part of a team that featured four Hall of Famers - Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Bill Walton.
Johnson had a reputation for delivering in big games.
"I hate to lose," he once said. "I accept it when it comes, but I still hate it. That's the way I am."
He averaged 14.1 points and 5.0 assists for his career. When he retired, he was the 11th player in NBA history to total 15,000 points and 5,000 assists. Johnson made one all-NBA first team and one second team. Six times he made the all-defensive first team, including five consecutive seasons (1979-83).
Johnson was born Sept. 18, 1954, in Compton, Calif. He played in college at Pepperdine and was drafted by Seattle in 1976. Johnson was traded to Phoenix in 1980 and Boston in 1983.

[legend]

The best tribute I can give Johnson is that as a Lakers fan I despised him, meaning he was a very good player. You never know when it's your time. Way too young for him, that's for sure.

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Being a New Englander I default to being a Celtics fan. More so 15 years ago than today but that is another subject. One of the memories I have of DJ is when he had his arc working correctly for him he was a menace to most all defenses. When he was off it was like watching me throw a bowling ball at the hoop. Thankfully he was on far more than he was off. Sad to lose another good (former) player at such a young age. RIP

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by legend

The best tribute I can give Johnson is that as a Lakers fan I despised him, meaning he was a very good player. You never know when it's your time. Way too young for him, that's for sure.

As a Celtic fan I liked him, but couldn't help but feel that him an Ainge were the reason the Celts didn't have better luck against the 76ers and Lakers...or that his best years were in Seattle and Phoenix

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

As a Celtic fan I liked him, but couldn't help but feel that him an Ainge were the reason the Celts didn't have better luck against the 76ers and Lakers...or that his best years were in Seattle and Phoenix

I have to disagree with you on this - big time.

1) The Celtics beat the Lakers in '84 and his defense was phenominal against Magic. As a matter of fact, he was a great defender, period.

2) He made so many big shots in the final seconds that won games for the Celts.

3) How about him being on the receiving end of that "Bird stole the ball" play.

It's a joke that he's not in the Hall of Fame. This is what I mean by stats being deceiving. The guy was like Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Not fancy, just making doing all the right things and making huge plays.

[G.O.D.F.A.T.H.A.]

DJ was a great defender and he was also a hellavu shooter. I got a chance to meet him in 85 when I was a small boy. I got him, Kevin Mchale, The Cheif, and Sir Larry to autograph the green converse sneakers that I took to the game that day. I still own those sneakers. They are valuable to me because I am a die hard Celtics fan. RIP DJ.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

I have to disagree with you on this - big time.

1) The Celtics beat the Lakers in '84 and his defense was phenominal against Magic. As a matter of fact, he was a great defender, period.

2) He made so many big shots in the final seconds that won games for the Celts.

3) How about him being on the receiving end of that "Bird stole the ball" play.

It's a joke that he's not in the Hall of Fame. This is what I mean by stats being deceiving. The guy was like Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Not fancy, just making doing all the right things and making huge plays.

You can disagree all you want, the fact remains that the Celtic back court tandem couldn't keep up with the Sixers, and struggled against the Lakers...Did he make a few good plays?...sure...did he have one good series against the Lakers...okay...but overall, he and Ainge were not the caliber of the front court and it probably cost them a few more banners...

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

You can disagree all you want, the fact remains that the Celtic back court tandem couldn't keep up with the Sixers, and struggled against the Lakers...Did he make a few good plays?...sure...did he have one good series against the Lakers...okay...but overall, he and Ainge were not the caliber of the front court and it probably cost them a few more banners...

Sorry, Goth... Bird called him the best player he'd ever played with. That's good enough for me.

Ainge, maybe, was overrated and a bit of a liability. But DJ was a gamer.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Sorry, Goth... Bird called him the best player he'd ever played with. That's good enough for me.

Ainge, maybe, was overrated and a bit of a liability. But DJ was a gamer.

Well then you and Bird missed a few series against 76ers when Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks use to take the Celtic back court to task...Toney would be in the NBA Hall of Fame had he played the Celtic every day....

[simple simon]

Johnson won a title with the SuperSonics in 1979, beating the Washington Bullets in the Finals. Johnson was named MVP of the 1979 Finals after averaging 22.6 points, 6 rebounds and assists while adding 1.8 steals and 2.2 blocks.

In his career, Johnson played in five NBA All-Star games, and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times and the All-Defensive Second Team three times.

Dennis Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thats not HOF worthy ?

Finals MVP and 6 time All Defensive 1st team .........every Finals MVP should be in the HOF of course

[legend]

Johnson was a great defender but that would also get Jerry Sloan into the Hall of Fame. I think he just falls short of the Hall.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

Johnson was a great defender but that would also get Jerry Sloan into the Hall of Fame. I think he just falls short of the Hall.

Agreed. He was always a solid player, but he wasn't a Hall of Famer.