Kevin Johnson - A Force

Kevin Johnson is one of only four players in NBA history to have averaged at least 20.0 points and 10.0 assists per game in three different seasons. * Johnson is one of four players to have averaged at least 15.0 points and 10.0 assists per game over the course of a season while shooting at least .500 from the field. * Johnson is one of only two players (the other is Magic Johnson) to have averaged at least 20.0 points and 10.0 assists per game over the course of a season while shooting at least .500 from the field. * On March 7, 2001, the Suns inducted Johnson into their Ring of Honor and retired his uniform number seven during halftime of a game Phoenix played against the Sacramento Kings, Johnson's hometown team. * NBA record holder for minutes in a finals game, playing 62 minutes in 1993 vs. the Chicago Bulls. * Three time NBA All-Star. * Phoenix Suns all time leader in free throws made, free throws attempted, and in assists.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• basketball

[jan279]

THE MAYOR! =)))

[joekiddlouischama]

@tbspatriot I agree, Nash is a better jump-shooter (especially from long range), while K.J. was more explosive, better at reaching the foul line, and a far superior defender.

[wazzup101fly]

240 p...

[tellthetruthg]

I saw KJ at Harmon against UCLA he did some incredible things with the ball. Don't care much for what if's but if Nash at his best played against KJ at his I think KJ wins those match up's

[chart3]

Great choice of song for these highlights.  Miss them both... :(

[chart3]

@demoncleaner45 Exactly... and I think I'd take KJ over CP3...

[ChandlerPol]

@emmettk Yes, KJ unfortunately played with an undiagnosed hernia for four years.

[ChandlerPol]

@lsatep In '96-'97, KJ became the first player in league history to rank in the top-three in both assists per game (9.3) and three-point field goal percentage (.441) in the same season. Since then, John Stockton ('00-'01) and Steve Nash ('06-'07 and '07-'08) have joined him.

[ChandlerPol]

In the ’94-’95 regular season, he shot just 4-26 on threes, but in the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals versus Houston, KJ shot 5-10 on treys. Then over the next two regular seasons, '95-'96 and '96-'97, KJ shot a combined .425 (110-259) from downtown. In '96-'97, he shot .441 on threes (2.9 FGA per game), third-best in the NBA behind only Glen Rice and Steve Kerr (and directly ahead of Joe Dumars, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller, and Dell Curry).

[ChandlerPol]

@lsatep But when he wanted to do so and looked for the shot (as opposed to full-court or half-court heaves at the end of a quarter or an attempt to beat the shot clock), he proved capable of hitting a three. For instance, even though he'd shot just 2-22 on threes in the '88-'89 regular season, KJ shot 2-3 from downtown in the 1989 Western Conference Finals against the Lakers. In the 1992 Western Conference Semifinals against Portland, KJ shot 3-5 on threes (3-6 in the overall 1992 playoffs).

[ChandlerPol]

@lsatep Then combine that context with the reality that KJ represented an efficient point guard who possessed so many other offensive weapons of his own and multiple three-point shooters on his team, such as Eddie Johnson, Jeff Hornacek, and Dan Majerle (and later Danny Ainge). Even Phoenix big men Tom Chambers and Ed Nealy could shoot threes, so little motivation existed for KJ to also launch treys.