Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)
Skyline (Dallas, Texas ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Power forward / small forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1991–1996 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1996–2001 | New York Knicks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Points | 11,450 (16.2 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rebounds | 5,300 (7.5 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assists | 2,298 (3.3 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Larry Demetric Johnson (born March 14, 1969) is an American former professional
High school career
In his senior year at
College career
Odessa (1987–1989)
Johnson originally made a verbal commitment to play for
UNLV (1989–1991)
Johnson eventually transferred to the
In a post-season mired by charges of recruiting violations and misconduct by UNLV, an agreement was reached between the university and the NCAA to allow for the defense of their title for the 1990–91 season, which would be followed by a suspension from post-season play the following season.[citation needed] Johnson and the Runnin' Rebels responded with a perfect regular season record of 27–0,[5] with an average scoring margin of 26.7 points per game; this total included a 112–105 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, ranked second in the country at the time.[6]
In the
Professional career
Charlotte Hornets (1991–1996)
Johnson was selected first overall in the
In 1993, Johnson was voted to start in
In October 1993, Johnson signed what was at the time the most lucrative contract in NBA history, a 12-year, $84 million deal with the Hornets.[7] However, he missed 31 games after spraining his back on December 27, 1993 in a game against the Detroit Pistons. During the summer he played for the U.S. national team (nicknamed Dream Team II) in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal.[8]
Johnson had entered the league as an explosive power forward, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. However, after the injury to his back, Johnson was forced to develop an all-around game with an improved outside shot. In the 1994–95 season, he made 81 three-pointers, nearly 60 more than in his first three years combined, and was selected to the 1995 NBA All-Star Game.[9]
Friction between Johnson and Mourning forced the organization to make a change, and the resulting moves made by the Hornets left both players on other teams. Prior to the 1995–96 season, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat for Glen Rice and Matt Geiger. Following that season, Johnson was dealt to the New York Knicks for Anthony Mason and Brad Lohaus.
New York Knicks (1996–2001)
Johnson averaged 12.8 points, a career-low, in his first season as a Knick, and although he would never return to his former All-Star form, he was a key member of the Knicks' 1999 Eastern Conference championship team.
During Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he was involved in a critical play in which he was fouled by Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers. Standing outside the three-point line with 11.9 seconds left, Johnson held the ball, and then began to dribble. He leaned into defender Davis before jumping up. The referee called the foul about a half-second before Johnson released the ball, but it was counted as a continuation shooting foul. Johnson made the shot and converted the free throw following the basket for a four-point play, which turned out to be the winning margin in a 92–91 Knicks victory.
During the 1999 NBA Finals, Johnson characterized the Knicks as a band of "rebellious slaves". Bill Walton later called Johnson and his performance a "disgrace". When Johnson was asked about the play of San Antonio Spurs point guard Avery Johnson in Game 4, Johnson again shifted the topic to slavery: "Ave, man, we're from the same plantation. You tell Bill Walton that. We from Massa Johnson's plantation."[10] He went on to say, "Here's the NBA, full of blacks, great opportunities, they made beautiful strides. But what's the sense of that ... when I go back to my neighborhood and see the same thing? I'm the only one who came out of my neighborhood. Everybody ended up dead, in jail, on drugs, selling drugs. So I'm supposed to be honored and happy or whatever by my success. Yes, I am. But I can't deny the fact of what has happened to us over years and years and years and we're still at the bottom of the totem pole."[10]
Johnson also played a central role in the developing rivalry between the Knicks and the Heat. In Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Johnson was one of several players who left the Knicks bench during a brawl involving teammate Charlie Ward and Miami's P. J. Brown; he was eventually suspended for Game 7 which the Knicks lost. Then in Game 4 of the 1998 Eastern Conference First Round, Johnson and former Hornets teammate Mourning engaged in a fight which also involved Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy holding onto Mourning's leg. Both Johnson and Mourning were suspended for Game 5, in which the seventh-seed Knicks eliminated the second-seed Heat.
On October 10, 2001, Johnson announced his early retirement from basketball due to chronic back problems that had plagued him for several years, after his point production had decreased for three straight years.[11]
Post-playing career
In July 2007, Johnson expressed interest in making a comeback with the Knicks in some type of "leadership role".[12] On December 21, 2007, Johnson received a bachelor of arts degree in social science studies from UNLV.[13] In 2008, Johnson was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame. He was hired by the Knicks as a basketball and business operations representative on April 8, 2012.[14] In 2014, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.[15]
Personal life
Johnson converted to Islam. During the NBA season, he observed Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.[16]
Johnson has five children with four women. In 2015, he filed for bankruptcy in a California court, claiming he owed more than $120,000 in unpaid child support.[17]
Film and television
In 1993, Johnson appeared in the episode "
NBA career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991–92 | Charlotte
|
82 | 77 | 37.2 | .490 | .227 | .829 | 11.0 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .6 | 19.2 |
1992–93 | Charlotte
|
82 | 82 | 40.5 | .526 | .254 | .767 | 10.5 | 4.3 | .6 | .3 | 22.1 |
1993–94 | Charlotte
|
51 | 51 | 34.5 | .515 | .238 | .695 | 8.8 | 3.6 | .6 | .3 | 16.4 |
1994–95 | Charlotte
|
81 | 81 | 39.9 | .480 | .386 | .774 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .3 | 18.8 |
1995–96 | Charlotte
|
81 | 81 | 40.4 | .476 | .366 | .757 | 8.4 | 4.4 | .7 | .5 | 20.5 |
1996–97 | New York
|
76 | 76 | 34.4 | .512 | .324 | .693 | 5.2 | 2.3 | .8 | .5 | 12.8 |
1997–98 | New York
|
70 | 70 | 34.5 | .485 | .238 | .756 | 5.7 | 2.1 | .6 | .2 | 15.5 |
1998–99 | New York
|
49 | 48 | 33.4 | .459 | .359 | .817 | 5.8 | 2.4 | .7 | .2 | 12.0 |
1999–00 | New York
|
70 | 68 | 32.6 | .433 | .333 | .766 | 5.4 | 2.5 | .6 | .1 | 10.7 |
2000–01 | New York
|
65 | 65 | 32.4 | .411 | .313 | .797 | 5.6 | 2.0 | .6 | .4 | 9.9 |
Career | 707 | 699 | 36.3 | .484 | .332 | .766 | 7.5 | 3.3 | .7 | .4 | 16.2 | |
All-Star | 2 | 1 | 18.0 | .444 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 5.5 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993
|
Charlotte
|
9 | 9 | 38.7 | .557 | .250 | .788 | 6.9 | 3.3 | .6 | .2 | 19.8 |
1995
|
Charlotte
|
4 | 4 | 43.0 | .477 | .111 | .800 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .5 | 20.8 |
1997
|
New York
|
9 | 9 | 32.8 | .558 | .353 | .842 | 4.0 | 2.6 | .8 | .1 | 13.8 |
1998
|
New York
|
8 | 8 | 38.8 | .486 | .200 | .740 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.3 | .4 | 17.9 |
1999
|
New York
|
20 | 20 | 34.2 | .426 | .293 | .674 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | .1 | 11.5 |
2000
|
New York
|
16 | 16 | 36.8 | .461 | .394 | .794 | 5.0 | 1.6 | .5 | .1 | 11.3 |
Career | 66 | 66 | 36.3 | .483 | .303 | .767 | 5.3 | 2.0 | .8 | .2 | 14.2 |
See also
- List of NBA rookie single-season rebounding leaders
- List of NBA annual minutes leaders
- 1998–99 New York Knicks season
References
- ^ "How Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Larry Johnson morphed f…". archive.ph. September 23, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ "Out Of The Hood – Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com". archive.ph. September 23, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ISBN 0-753374-5-95
- ^ "Which is the only basketball team to have scored over 100 points in a NCAA championship game?". April 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Five Individuals, One Team Headed to UNLV Hall, archived from the original on March 16, 2009, retrieved July 23, 2002
- ^ "ESPN: 1991 UNLV Runnin' Rebels", ESPN.com, March 9, 2006, retrieved March 24, 2006
- ^ SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Charlotte Signs Johnson for $84 Million
- ^ 1994 USA Basketball Archived November 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "1995 NBA All-Star recap". NBA.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "No One is Safe from Johnson's Wrath", Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, June 24, 1999
- ^ PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks' Johnson Retires, Preferring to Fade Away
- NY Daily News
- ^ Runnin' Rebel Legend Walks, retrieved December 21, 2007
- ^ Larry Johnson joins Knicks' front office, April 8, 2012, retrieved April 22, 2014
- ^ "Larry Johnson".
- ^ Selena Roberts (January 24, 1999). "A Diet of Discipline". The New York Times.
- ^ "NBA's Larry Johnson – Alleged Deadbeat Dad ... To FOUR Baby Mamas!!". TMZ. March 25, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ "Grandmama". Family Matters. Season 5. Episode 7. November 5, 1993.
- ^ "November 3, 1993". Late Show with David Letterman. November 30, 1993.
- ^ Rash, Steve (Director) (1996). Eddie (Film). United States: Hollywood Pictures.
- ^ Pytka, Joe (Director) (1996). Space Jam (Film). USA: Warner Bros.
External links
- Official website
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- Larry Johnson at IMDb