Dennis Johnson and Something So Right (song): Difference between pages

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"'''Something So Right'''" is a 1995 duet by [[Annie Lennox]] and [[Paul Simon]], released as a single from their albums ''[[Medusa]]'' and ''[[There Goes Rhymin' Simon]]'' respectfully. The single reached #44 in the UK charts.
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{{infobox NBA Player
| image = Dennis_Johnson_Lipofsky.jpg
| name = Dennis Johnson
| nickname = DJ
| position = [[guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 182
| nationality = USA
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1954|9|18}}
| birth_place = [[San Pedro, California]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2007|2|22|1954|9|18}}
| death_place = [[Austin, Texas]]
| college = [[Pepperdine University|Pepperdine]]
| draft = 2nd round, 29th overall
| draft_year = 1976
| draft_team = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| career_start = 1976
| career_end = 1990
| former_teams = Seattle SuperSonics (1976&ndash;1980)<br />[[Phoenix Suns]] (1980&ndash;1983)<br />[[Boston Celtics]] (1983&ndash;1990)
| awards = NBA Finals MVP (1979) <br /> All-NBA First Team (1981) <br /> All-NBA Second Team (1980) <br /> 6-Time NBA All-Defensive First Team <br /> 3-Time NBA All-Defensive Second Team <br /> 5-Time NBA All-Star
}}
'''Dennis Wayne Johnson''' (September 18, 1954 &ndash; February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional [[basketball]] player for the [[National Basketball Association]] [[Seattle SuperSonics]], [[Phoenix Suns]] and the [[Boston Celtics]] and coach of the [[Austin Toros]] of the [[National Basketball Association Development League]]. He is an alumnus of [[Dominguez High School]], [[Los Angeles Harbor College]] and [[Pepperdine University]].<ref name=nbabio>{{cite web| url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/djohnson_bio.html|title=NBA.com: Dennis Johnson Bio|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref>


{{song-stub}}
A prototypical latebloomer, the 6'4" Johnson overcame early struggles<ref name=cn1>{{cite web|url=http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/dennis_johnson/dennis_johnson_page1.htm|title=Celtic-nation.com – Boston Celtic legend Dennis Johnson interview page 1|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> and had a successful NBA player career. Playing the roles of [[shooting guard]] in his first years before becoming a [[point guard]] with the Celtics, he won three NBA championships, winning the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]] in the [[1979 NBA Finals]], was voted into five All-Star Teams, in one All-NBA First and one Second Team, and into nine straight All-Defensive First and Second Teams.<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsde01.html|title=Dennis Johnson Stats|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> Apart from his reputation as a defensive stopper, Johnson was known as a clutch player who made several decisive plays in NBA Finals history.<ref name=nbabio/>

For his feats, the Celtics franchise has retired Johnson's number-3 jersey, which hangs from the rafters of the [[TD Banknorth Garden]]. Despite his performances, Johnson was denied induction into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]], and is therefore considered by several sports journalists as one of the most underrated players of all time.<ref name=simmons/><ref name=shouler1>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=2394981|title=ESPN – Hall of Fame still neglecting a few greats|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref><ref name=shouler2>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=shouler_ken&id=2822048|title=ESPN – Shining stars who belong in the Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref>

==Early years==
Dennis Wayne Johnson was born in a big family, being the eighth of sixteen children of a social worker and a bricklayer who lived in [[Compton, California]].<ref name=nbabio/> Originally a big baseball fan and a Little Leaguer,<ref name=cn1/> Johnson Jr. learned basketball from his father, but seemed to neither have the size nor the talent to keep up with his peers: as a teenager at [[Dominguez High School]], Johnson Jr. measured just 5'9" and only played "a minute or two each game".<ref name=nbabio/> After high school, he took on several odd jobs, among them a $2.75-per-hour job as a forklift driver, and played with his brothers in summer league games only after work. In this time, Johnson experienced a growth spurt and grew to a height of 6'3",<ref name=cn1/> and developed legs which nba.com later described as "rocket launcher legs" which enabled him jump high to grab [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] against taller opponents.<ref name=nbabio/>

Jim White, the coach at [[Los Angeles Harbor College]], watched Johnson playing [[street basketball]], discovered he excelled in defense and asked him to enroll.<ref name=cn1/> Johnson gave up his odd jobs and blossomed into a promising young guard, averaging 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game and leading Harbor to a college junior state title.<ref name=nbabio/> However, the young guard also showed a lack of discipline, often clashing with White and being thrown out of the team three times in two years. This was a trait which would follow him through the next years of his career.<ref name=cn1/>

At the end of his junior college career, only two universities offered Johnson scholarships, namely Azusa Pacific and [[Pepperdine University]].<ref name=nbabio/> Johnson chose the latter, and in his only year in college, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game,<ref name=stats/> and developed a reputation for tough defense. After that year, Johnson made himself eligible for the [[1976 NBA Draft]], but was skeptical whether any team would take him.<ref name=nbabio/> In addition, as Johnson was known as a troublemaker, several universities were wary to take a player with character issues.<ref name=cn1/>

==Professional career==
===Seattle SuperSonics (1976-80)===
In the second round of that draft, the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] took Johnson with the 29th pick and was given a four-year contract which started with a salary of $45,000 in year one and ended with $90,000 in the last year.<ref name=shouler>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=2776021|title=ESPN – Shouler: DJ deserving of praise|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> In his rookie year, the [[1976-77 NBA season]], the now 6'4" tall guard played backup to the experienced Sonics backcourt tandem of [[Slick Watts]] and [[Fred Brown (basketball)|Fred Brown]] and averaged 9.2 points and 1.5 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> However, the Sonics finished with a mediocre 40-42 record<ref name=sonicsstats>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/|title=Seattle Supersonics Team Index|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> and missed the [[1977 NBA Playoffs]], causing head coach [[Bill Russell]] to resign.<ref name=nbabio/> In the following [[1977-78 NBA season]], his replacement [[Bob Hopkins]] lost 17 of the first 22 games, and after this disastrous start, he was replaced by Hall-of-Fame coach [[Lenny Wilkens]], who gave Johnson a starting spot and paired him with [[Gus Williams]].<ref name=nbabio/> Johnson thrived in this new role, improving his averages to 12.7 points and 2.8 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> Remarkable about this period was the fact that Johnson played [[shooting guard]] and was then known for his aggressive [[slam dunk]]ing, in contrast to the more cerebral roles he played later in his career.<ref name=simmons/> It was at this time that Johnson's nickname "DJ" was coined by play-by-play announcer [[Bob Blackburn]], to help distinguish him from fellow starter [[John Johnson (basketball)|John Johnson]] (whom Blackburn referred to as "JJ").<ref name=dj>{{cite web|url=http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/6386299p-5696564c.html|title=''D.J. had yen for big shots, big-time ‘D’''|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref>

After an impressive finish, the Sonics ended the regular season with a 47-35 record and entered the [[1978 NBA Playoffs]]. After eliminating the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], the defending champions [[Portland Trail Blazers]] and the [[Denver Nuggets]], they almost defeated the [[Washington Bullets]] by taking a 3-2 lead in the [[1978 NBA Finals]]. In a 93-92 Game 3 victory, Johnson blocked seven shots - the most blocks in NBA Finals history for a visiting player.<ref name=finalsrecords>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/01playoffs/finals/records.htm|title=USA Today – NBA Finals records|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref><ref name=finals78>{{cite web|url=http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1978.htm|title=1978 NBA Finals|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> However, the Sonics lost in seven games, partly due to Johnson's horrible Game 7 scoring drought, where the sophomore guard missed all of his 14 field goal attempts.<ref name= shouler/> Johnson later acknowledged he simply "choked", vowed never to repeat this again and thus credited this game as an important lesson to become a better player.<ref name=cn4>{{cite web|url=http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/dennis_johnson/dennis_johnson_page4.htm|title=Celtic-nation.com – Boston Celtic legend Dennis Johnson interview page 4|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref>

The next year, Johnson and the Sonics got their revenge. In the [[1978-79 NBA season]], Johnson established himself as one of the best guards in the league, averaging 15.9 points and 3.5 assists per game, being elected in the All-Defensive First Team and into his first of five All-Star games.<ref name=stats/> Winning the Pacific Division with a strong 52-30 record,<ref name=sonicsstats/> the Sonics powered their way into the [[1979 NBA Finals]] where they met the Bullets again. After losing Game 1, the Sonics won the next four matches and took the finals series, helped by an inspired Johnson, who averaged almost 23 points along with six rebounds and assists per game.<ref name=finals79>{{cite web|url=http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1979.htm|title=1979 NBA Finals|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> He scored 32 points in an Game 4 overtime victory, and was finally named [[NBA Finals MVP]].<ref name=nbabio/>

However, the tide turned against Johnson in the [[1979-80 NBA season|following season]]. Despite another strong season in which he averaged 19.0 points and 4.1 assists, was voted an All-Star and a member of the All-Defensive First Team again and was elected into the All-NBA Second Team for the first time,<ref name=stats/> the Sonics lost in the [[1980 NBA Playoffs|Western Conference Finals]] against the Lakers of Hall-of-Famers [[Magic Johnson]] and [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]. Due to the abundance of talent on the losing Sonics team, Johnson later called this loss one of the worst disappointments of his professional career.<ref name=cn4/> In addition, coach Wilkens grew tired of his guard, who often clashed with him and was perceived as a growing liability for the team.<ref name=cn1/> As a consequence, Johnson was then traded to the [[Phoenix Suns]] for [[Paul Westphal]] and draft picks. As a testament to Johnson's importance for the team, the Sonics finished 22 games worse in the next season despite the addition of Westphal.<ref name=simmons/>

===Phoenix Suns (1980-83)===
In Phoenix, Johnson further established himself as a quality player. In his three years as a Sun, Johnson averaged 14-20 points a game and played smothering defense, becoming a two-time All-Star, was voted into three consecutive All-Defense First Teams and made his only All-NBA First Team appearance.<ref name=stats/> In this period, Johnson played [[shooting guard]] and became the main scorer of his teams as opposed to being second or third option as a Sonic.<ref name=simmons/>

In his stint, the Suns had two fairly successful years, reaching the Western Conference Semifinals twice before disappointingly bowing out in the first round in Johnson's last year.<ref name=sunsstats>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/|title=Phoenix Suns Team Index|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> This also reflected Johnson's deteriorating situation in Phoenix. Like in Seattle, he often clashed with coach [[John MacLeod (basketball)|John MacLeod]], and was finally traded by general manager [[Jerry Colangelo]] to the Boston Celtics for [[Rick Robey]] and draft picks.<ref name=cn5>{{cite web|url=http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/dennis_johnson/dennis_johnson_page5.htm|title=Celtic-nation.com – Boston Celtic legend Dennis Johnson interview page 5|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> However, much like in Seattle after DJ's departure, the Suns finished 12 games worse in the next season despite the addition of Robey.<ref name=simmons/>

===Boston Celtics (1983-90)===
Prior to the [[1983-84 NBA season]], the Celtics had repeatedly lost in the previous NBA Playoffs campaigns to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], mainly because physical Sixers guard [[Andrew Toney]] routinely caused problems for their defensively fragile backcourt. Thus, Celtics general manager [[Red Auerbach]] added the perennial All-Defense Team member Johnson to his squad.<ref name=simmons/> Johnson joined a squad led by Hall-of-Fame forward [[Larry Bird]], who played in the frontcourt with two fellow Hall-of-Famers, center [[Robert Parish]] and forward [[Kevin McHale]], a combination often called the best frontcourt of all time by the NBA.<ref name=birdbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html|title=NBA.com: Larry Bird Bio|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> Johnson described it as a "dream come true" and enjoyed the tutelage of highly successful Celtics general manager Auerbach, who was "living history" according to Johnson.<ref name=cn5/>

With the Celtics, Johnson changed his playing style for the third time in his career: after being known as a [[slam dunk]]ing shooting guard with the Sonics, and an all-around scorer with the Suns, he now established himself as a [[point guard]] who defined more by playmaking than scoring.<ref name=simmons/> In his first year as a Celtic, he averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists and was elected into the All-Defensive Second Team.<ref name=stats/> The Celtics reached the [[1984 NBA Finals]], where they met the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], their intense [[Celtics-Lakers rivalry|rivals since the 1960s]]. The Celtics won 4-3, and Johnson took credit for playing smothering defense on Hall-of-Fame Lakers playmaker [[Magic Johnson]], limiting him to a sub-average 17 points in the last four games,<ref name=simmons/> and being at least partly responsible for several of the Laker point guard's game-deciding errors in Games 2, 4 and 7. As a result, Magic Johnson was from that moment on taunted as "Tragic Johnson" whenever Lakers and Celtics played against each other.<ref name=magicbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/johnsonm_bio.html|title=NBA.com: Magic Johnson Bio|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref>

In the following [[1984-85 NBA season]], Johnson continued playing smothering defense, earning his next All-Defensive Second Team call-up while averaging 16.9 points and 7.3 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> The Celtics went into the [[1985 NBA Finals]], and met the Lakers again. Johnson's big moment came in Game 4: when the score was tied 105-105, teammate [[Larry Bird]] had the ball in the last seconds. Being double-teamed by Lakers [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] and [[Magic Johnson]], Bird passed out to the open Johnson, and the guard sank a {{convert|19|ft|m|sing=on}} [[buzzer beater]] which won the game.<ref name=shouler/> However, the Lakers took their revenge this time, winning the series in six games, powered by venerable 38-year old Finals MVP Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson described this loss as one of the toughest ever, because the Celtics were "close [to winning the series]" but "could not get the job done".<ref name=cn5/>

In [[1985-86 NBA season|1986]], the Celtics came back. Helped by the performance of Johnson, who made the All-Defense Second Team again while scoring 17.8 points and 6.7 assists per game,<ref name=stats/> the Celtics reached the [[1986 NBA Finals]] against the up-and-coming [[Houston Rockets]], led by the "Twin Towers" of centers [[Ralph Sampson]] and [[Hakeem Olajuwon]]. Led by Finals MVP Larry Bird, the Celtics beat the Rockets 4-2, and Johnson won his third title.<ref name=celticsstats>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/|title=Boston Celtics Team Index|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref>

The Celtics were unable to repeat their title in [[1986-87 NBA season|1987]] despite several dramatic playoff victories. Johnson played strong defense again, earning yet another All-Defensive Second Team call-up,<ref name=stats/> and the Celtics embarked on a nail-biting playoff campaign.
* In the [[1987 NBA Playoffs|1987 Eastern Conference Semifinals]], the Celtics split the first six games against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] 3-3. In the deciding Game 7, which the Celtics won, Johnson had a spectacular play with 1:30 left in the game: a Celtics ball threatened to fly out of bounds, but Johnson dived for it, whipped it backwards in mid-air against Bucks center [[Jack Sikma]], and the ball ricocheted against Sikma before going out of bounds. The Celtics kept the ball and prevented a crucial turnover.<ref name=simmons/>
* In the next round, the [[1987 NBA Playoffs|1987 Eastern Conference Finals]], the Celtics faced the [[Detroit Pistons]]. It was described as a grudge match between two intense rivals, featuring a great level of personal animosity, [[trash talk|sharp rhetoric]] and several physical altercations. The center of this feud was Pistons pivot [[Bill Laimbeer]], who got into brawls with Celtics players Bird and Parish.<ref name=laimbeerbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/laimbeer_bio.html|title=NBA.com: Bill Laimbeer Bio|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> In Game 5 of this series, Johnson was involved in a crucial play: down by one point, [[Larry Bird]] stole an inbounds pass by Pistons point guard [[Isiah Thomas]] with six seconds left and passed it to a sprinting Johnson, who converted a difficult layup as time expired.<ref name=nbabio/> This play caused Celtics broadcaster [[Johnny Most]] to shout out one of his most famous quotes: ''“Now there's a steal by Bird! Underneath to DJ who lays it in!!...Right at one second left! What a play by Bird!! Bird stole the inbounding pass, laid it up to DJ, and DJ laid it up and in, and Boston has a one-point lead with one second left! Oh, my, this place is going crazy!!!”''<ref name="most">[http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/02/23/23golden.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=54 ''On a team of greats, D.J. stood tall''] last accessed February 22, 2007.</ref> According to Johnson, this play is his personal favorite of all-time.<ref name=cn5/>
* Game 6 and Game 7 also featured a feud, this time between Pistons forward [[Dennis Rodman]] and Johnson. In Game 6, which the Pistons won, Rodman taunted Johnson in the closing seconds by waving his right hand over his head. When the Celtics took Game 7, Johnson went back at Rodman in the last moments of the game and mimicked his taunting gesture.<ref name=simmons/>

In the [[1987 NBA Finals]] however, the Celtics succumbed to their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, with 2-4 because Lakers playmaker and Finals MVP [[Magic Johnson]] was unstoppable.<ref name=magicbio/>

In the next [[1987-88 NBA season]], the veteran Johnson averaged 12.6 points and 7.8 assists,<ref name=stats/> but in the [[1988 NBA Playoffs]], the aging Celtics were unable to beat the [[Detroit Pistons]] in the Eastern Conference Finals.<ref name=celticsstats/>

The next two seasons were disappointing for the aging Celtics. In the [[1988-89 NBA season]], Johnson (who statistically declined to 10.0 points and 6.6 assists per game)<ref name=stats/> and his team made the [[1989 NBA Playoffs]] on a meagre 42-40 record, but immediately were eliminated in the first round.<ref name=celticsstats/> The following [[1989-90 NBA season]] was Johnson's last. The now 35 year old playmaker relinquished his starting point guard role to younger [[John Bagley (basketball)|John Bagley]], but when Bagley dislocated his shoulder, Johnson played "rejuvenated" and was lovingly called "our glue man" by coach [[Jimmy Rodgers (basketball)|Jimmy Rodgers]].<ref name=defwiz/> In his last season, Johnson started in 65 of his 75 games, averaged 7.1 points and 6.5 assists,<ref name=stats/> but the aging Celtics failed to survive the first round of the [[1990 NBA Playoffs]].<ref name=celticsstats/>

Johnson retired prior to the [[1990-91 NBA season]]. On his retirement ceremony, his perennial Los Angeles Lakers opponent [[Magic Johnson]] telegraphed him and lauded him as "the greatest backcourt defender of all time".<ref name=defwiz>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/sports/basketball/23johnson.html ''Dennis Johnson, 52, N.B.A. Defensive Wizard, Dies''] last accessed February 22, 2007.</ref> In addition, Celtics colleague and triple [[NBA Most Valuable Player]] award winner [[Larry Bird]] called Johnson the best teammate he ever had.<ref name=nbabio/>

===Post-player career===
After retiring as a player, Johnson at first became scout for the Celtics in 1993.<ref name=nbabio/> In the same year, Johnson was made assistant coach of the Boston Celtics, a position he hed until 1997.<ref name=defwiz/> After spending several years outside the limelight, he returned as a coach for the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] in 2003, coached the last 24 games after the departure of [[Alvin Gentry]]<ref name=defwiz/> and was then scout for the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]. In 2004, Johnson was named head coach of the NBADL Florida Flames before becoming coach of the [[NBADL]] [[Austin Toros]] in 2005, a position he held until his death two years later.<ref name=defwiz/>

[[Image:Celtics3.png|left|95px|thumbnail|In 1991, the Boston Celtics retired a number-3 jersey with Dennis Johnson's name.]]

==Legacy==
In 1,100 games, Johnson scored 15,535 points, grabbed 4,249 rebounds and gave 5,499 assists, translating to career averages of 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> Known as a defensive stalwart, he was elected into nine straight All-Defensive First and Second Teams,<ref name=stats/> and is acknowledged by the NBA as a "money player"<ref name=nbabio/> who was clutch in decisive moments, such as playing smothering defense on [[Magic Johnson]] in the [[1984 NBA Finals]], converting a last-second layup in Game 4 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals after a [[Larry Bird]] steal, and most importantly winning the 1979 [[NBA Finals MVP]] award.<ref name=nbabio/>

Furthermore, Johnson is lauded by the NBA as a versatile all-around weapon who played with "contagious competitiveness"<ref name=nbabio/> and was known for his durability: in 14 NBA seasons, he played in 1,100 of a possible 1,148 games and participated in 180 playoff games, the latter figure the 11th highest number of all time.<ref name=simmons>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070222|title=ESPN Page 2 – The Sports Guy: RIP, DJ|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> At his retirement, Johnson was only the 11th NBA player to amass more than 15,000 points and 5,000 assists.<ref name=nbabio/>

On December 13, 1991, the Celtics franchise retired his number-3 jersey. Johnson described the experience as "special feeling" and said he will always be a Boston Celtic.<ref name=cn6>{{cite web|url=http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/dennis_johnson/dennis_johnson_page6.htm|title=Celtic-nation.com – Boston Celtic legend Dennis Johnson interview page 6|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> However, Johnson did not live to see an induction into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]], a fact that has been a considerable point of debate with sports journalists. [[Bill Simmons]] of [[ESPN]] called his Hall of Fame snub an "ongoing injustice", stating that according to him, [[Joe Dumars]] – Hall of Famer known for strong defense rather than spectacular scoring, like Johnson – was no better [a basketball player] than him.<ref name=simmons/> Also colleague Ken Shouler called Johnson "one of the first guys I'd give a Hall [of Fame] pass".<ref name=shouler/> Contemporary Boston Celtics Hall-of-fame forward [[Larry Bird]] in any case gave Johnson ultimate praise, calling him the best teammate he ever had in his biography ''Drive''.<ref name=nbabio/>

On October 26, 2007, a learning center was dedicated in Johnson's name in the Central Branch of the YMCA of Greater Boston. The center was made possible by the donations and effort of Larry Bird and M.L. Carr. Johnson's family, Danny Ainge, Carr, and members of YMCA and local community were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

==Personal life==
Dennis Johnson was married to Donna, his wife of 31 years, and had three children named Dwayne, Denise and Daniel.<ref name=memorial>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2783681|title=ESPN – Dennis Johnson remembered at memorial service|accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> During his life, Johnson was also known for his unusual outward appearance: despite being [[African-American]], he had [[freckles]] and reddish hair.<ref name=occasion>{{cite web|url= http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2007/02/23/he_always_rose_to_the_occasion/ |title=He always rose to the occasion |accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> Known as a troublemaker early in his professional career,<ref name=cn1/> On October 21, 1997 he was arrested and later charged with aggravated assault for a domestic incident in which he allegedly held a knife to his wife's throat and threatened his children, but the marriage survived this incident.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E6D7173EF932A15753C1A961958260 PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Dennis Johnson Is Arrested], ''New York Times'', September 21, 1997, last accessed February 24, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/10-97/10-22-97/d06sp172.htm DJ out on bail in Orlando], last accessed February 24, 2007</ref>

===Death===
On February 22, 2007, at the [[Austin Convention Center]], Johnson had a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] and collapsed at the end of the Toros' practice.<ref name=defwiz/> After being rushed to a nearby hospital, he could not be revived and was later pronounced dead. Johnson was survived by his wife and his three children.<ref name=defwiz/> Johnson's death was met with shock throughout the NBA. Among others, contemporary Celtics colleague [[Danny Ainge]] called him one of "the most underrated players of all time […] and one of the greatest Celtics acquisitions",<ref name=defwiz/> and one-time rival [[Bill Laimbeer]] called him "a great player on a great ballclub".<ref name=defwiz/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=dennis_johnson nba.com historical playerfile]
*[http://www.nba.com/history/players/djohnson_summary.html NBA.com: Dennis Johnson Summary]

{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals Most Valuable Player]] | before=[[Wes Unseld]] | years=[[1979 NBA Finals|1979]]| after=[[Magic Johnson]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[Los Angeles Clippers]] Head Coach | before = [[Alvin Gentry]] | years=2003 | after = [[Mike Dunleavy, Sr.|Mike Dunleavy]]
}}
{{end box}}

{{1976 NBA Draft}}
{{Seattle SuperSonics 1978-79 NBA champions}}
{{Boston Celtics 1983-84 NBA champions}}
{{Boston Celtics 1985-86 NBA champions}}
{{NBA Finals MVPs}}
{{Phoenix Suns}}
{{Los Angeles Clippers}}

{{Persondata
|NAME = Dennis Wayne Johnson
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Dennis Johnson
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = NBA basketball player
|DATE OF BIRTH = September 18, 1954
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[San Pedro, California]]
|DATE OF DEATH = February 22, 2007
|PLACE OF DEATH = [[Austin, Texas]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Dennis}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:American basketball players]]
[[Category:African American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics draft picks]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Suns players]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics players]]
[[Category:American basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Clippers coaches]]
[[Category:People from Compton, California]]
[[Category:Pepperdine Waves men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Point guards]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Deaths by myocardial infarction]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in Texas]]

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Revision as of 20:57, 10 October 2008

"Something So Right" is a 1995 duet by Annie Lennox and Paul Simon, released as a single from their albums Medusa and There Goes Rhymin' Simon respectfully. The single reached #44 in the UK charts.

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