The above picture to be the most popular Dennis Johnson picture for news sites to use today in concert with Dennis Johnson obituaries. It shows Dennis Johnson as most people remember him, as a Celtic, as a champion, and as a role player on those Celtics teams. Even though DJ is front and center with the trophy, Bird still commands the attention behind him, with Brent Musberger in one hand, and a Miller Lite in the other.
I can't pretend to speak eloquently on the career of Dennis Johnson. I remember him as I see him that picture, a high-level roleplayer on this great Celtics teams, and at the time, the only black man with freckles that I had ever seen. I had freckles as a child. That was how I related to Dennis Johnson.
Most people don't remember (and I didn't until today) Dennis Johnson's previous days with the Sonics where he was more than a roleplayer ... in Seattle, he was the whole show. In 1979, he led the Sonics to the NBA championship, picking up Finals MVP honors along the way. Over a three-year stretch from '80 to '82, Johnson averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.
Bob Ryan, in the below video, calls him the best player who isn't in the Hall of Fame. It's a nice little six-minute career retrospective on DJ. The audio gets a little bit out of sync at the end, but you'll get the gist. I love the play at about the 4:18 mark where Johnson gets the ball to Bird off the glass. That's the creativity of a true playmaker.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-23-2007 @ 6:22AM
Bourne To Kill said...
No more clutch player existed (lay-in off Bird's steal), no greater player totally subjugated his game for the good of the team (DJ won a title leading Seattle before coming to the mid-80s Celtics), few had bigger balls (nailing the last second shot in the Finals against LA after starting the night 3-17), and no one I can think of offhand should have been coaching/running the Celtics besides him... Doc Rivers is sort of like a cruel joke in this regard, and AInge is simply, plainly the signature of a cruel God.
While I can see how you'd use "role-player" to describe DJ, the term shames him. Even using "the Big Three" slights Dennis Johnson. He should be in the Hall of Fame well before they stick in a career-length loser like Stockton or Barkley.
Rest easy, DJ...you earned it.
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2-23-2007 @ 8:10AM
Bourne To Kill said...
You may want to dig around on this....but there's a great urban legend about DJ's little brother and his skywalking ability.
He went to like Montana State, and never gained stardom. But he is famous up there, and here's why:
The only bar in town on that campus had a flood one year, and there was a water-level mark that was later measured at about 13 feet high on the wall outside. On a dare, Johnson II jumped up and was able to slap his hand above the high water mark.
This led to greater dares, which culminated in Johnson doing the old "jump, put a quarter on top of the backboad.... then jump up again, and make change" stunt.
People up there suddenly stopped looking for Sasquatch, because the true freak in the mountain valley was playing for Montana State.
If someone could come up with the true story...maybe DJ's cousin from the other DJ thread here... it'd serve posterity better than me regurgitating something I read when I was stoned.
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2-23-2007 @ 8:19AM
Bourne To Kill said...
Sorry to hog the comments.... but you might get a laugh knowing that once I lost $50 to a SPED kid who was able to throw a quarter from the ground and manage to make it land on top of the backboard and stay there.
I just meant to give the kid a task to keep him busy while I was breaking up a fight...but the kid came through, and we were off to the ATM.
Asperger's Syndrome kid, too... there was no way in Hell he should have made that shot... unfortunately, we weren't playing in Hell... just Charlestown, which is the closest thing to.
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2-23-2007 @ 11:00AM
c Man said...
Simply the best
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2-23-2007 @ 11:17AM
Harry Derderian said...
Because of the high profile personalities he played with, I'm not sure Dennis Johnson was fully appreciated for his talents...he was a quiet hero, a quiet superstar.
The tragedy in Boston today is that the Celtics had the nerve to dedicate what we all knew would be a terrible season to Red Auerbach..what a pity..so out of touch..some tribute to the Master.
The ongoing current Celtic management malaise and apathy serves one good purpose: it helps use appreciate stars like DJ all the more.
The greatest legacy on pro sports is tarnished more very day.
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2-23-2007 @ 11:49AM
Gary said...
Dennis Johnson was the most consistent and unselfish player the game has ever seen. He did whatever it took to win and didn't want the attention that other players craved. Quiet and unspoken is how I will remember him.
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2-23-2007 @ 12:00PM
Christian Farley said...
The thing I loved about DJ was his infectious smile. He always seemed to be having fun. Rest in peace, DJ. Classy man has passed.
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2-23-2007 @ 12:42PM
Cee Jay said...
R.I.P,,,,DJ,,,,JOB WELL DONE,,,,
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2-23-2007 @ 12:53PM
Cee Jay said...
YOU WILL BE MISS DJ
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2-23-2007 @ 1:16PM
Jack Williams said...
He's a Hall of Famer - Too bad no one saw fit to give him that honor while he was alive!
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2-23-2007 @ 1:18PM
Mark 1 said...
My first memories of watching NBA were the battles of the Washington (Bullets at the time) and Seattle do battle in back to back championships 77&78 .DJ always played hard and I think he should be in the Hall for his all around game. (not just cause he is not here) You guys who are NBA fans not familiar with his game research and you will see a whole different game from todays game when guys played hard and injuried regular season and playoffs.This is my first time writing in and I wanted you youngsters to know this and send my well wishes to his family and say thank you for the memories. RIP DJ
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2-23-2007 @ 2:07PM
fj said...
Dj exemplified what this game stood for and should stand for today. He was consistent, committed, humble, and selfless for the progress of his TEAM. When I moved to Seattle from Africa in '78, it was Dj that sparked my interest in sport and sportsmanship. In '79 when the fans welcomed the Sonics back home, it was his picture on top of the car with his victorious smile that remains with me.
There should be a proper tribute to his memory first by Seattle which can claim that ONE championship season thanks to the MVP, Dennis Johnson; then by Phoenix and the Celtics; and THE ENTIRE LEAGUE.
Dj's impact to this game should not be forgotten. EVER.
My prayers for the peace and rest of his soul and courage for his family- and for the league to do the right thing in never forgetting Dennis Johnson.
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2-23-2007 @ 3:19PM
mario said...
Im 29 and I was watching the NBA, right around the time the Celtics and Lakers were battling year after year. I remember that the camaras followed Bird, more then anyone else, but I followed DJ. He was the type of player I enjoyed watching because I could relate to him. He was a true champion, he was such an important part of those Celtic teams, Im afraid we didnt realize this until he was gone. You think of those teams and you think of Bird, Mchale, Parrish, But dont ever forget about DJ. Remember this, "there's a steal by bird, on the lead to DJ, lays it in" If anyone on that team could be trusted on that exact moment to lay that ball in, it would be DJ. He was that type of player, he was a winner. thanks for the memories DJ........
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2-23-2007 @ 4:01PM
smythe said...
The Boston Celtics of the eighties was the best of the NBA glory days. Thanks for the memories.
RIP DJ
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2-23-2007 @ 4:05PM
Davan S. Mani said...
I liked him when he played at Seattle and Phoenix. He wasn't under a caste system by the media when he played there like he was in Boston. Even though, Gus Williams was the main ballhandler and he was overshadowed by other players like Marvin Webster, Jack Sikma, Freddie Brown, and Paul Silas. He really captured the fans heart and soul as well as the media with his play.
The Seattle fans haven't been the same since he was traded as well as Lenny Wilkens. Lenny should have ripped the old contract and got him a new one because as much as Gus Williams was great; Dennis could guard Magic Johnson at 6'4.
Another coach who wasn't the same after Dennis Johnson but for a different reason was Dick Motta. After an 0-14 shooting in Game 7 of the 1978 playoffs in which the Bullets beat the Sonics, Bullets coach, Dick Motta was taunting him each time he missed in that 1979 season like "0-15" in a regular season. Then in the championship, "this is the playoffs and this the big one" each time Dennis passed by his bench.
Well, Dennis blocked Larry Wright's shot which was called a foul at the end of regulation in game 1 of the 79 championship but then Seattle won 4 straight; the key was Dennis blocking Kevin Grevey's shot in OT in game 4 to preserve the win otherwise it could have been a different series. In game 5, Motta got himself thrown out because Dennis Johnson was kicking his team's butt and on his way of winning the finals MvP.
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2-23-2007 @ 4:16PM
Craig said...
I grew up in Seattle playing basketball and am the same age as Dennis Johnson. When he arrived to play for the Sonics out of Pepperdine, a year early from graduating, no one thought much. The Sonics were nothing at the time, and Dennis quietly, adroitly and
tenaciously played his valuable part to turn them into NBA champions.
You must understand, he was not a superstar, he was simply the guy you wanted on YOUR team. With him you stood a darn good chance of winning the game. Dennis Johnson epitomized the word "teammate".
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2-23-2007 @ 4:40PM
randy gray said...
growing up north of seattle as a kid the sonics were my nba team... my first star was bob rule, then came freddy brown, spencer haywood and jack sikma,, the one player that really kept the energy going was dj, dennis johnson, sorry to see you go old friend, thanks for the many memories, goodbye.
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2-23-2007 @ 5:17PM
DANNY said...
GREAT PERSON AND PLAYER THANKS FOR THE MEM
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2-23-2007 @ 5:33PM
Sheldon L said...
Dennis Johnson played for three teams Sonics, Suns, and Celtics, and made each one better! There are very few players that could play with anyone, any time,anywhere without having any dificulty integrating with the team and making a contibution in all facets of the game. DJ played hard and well at both ends of the court. He understood the game, the personalities and how to win. He is a coaches dream and would be welcome anywhere, and he will be missed.
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2-23-2007 @ 6:40PM
ARW said...
As a big laker fan in the late 70's and early eighties, I recall DJ very well. He really could do a credible job of guarding Magic, which I think was a reason he ended up with the Celtics who were looking for Laker-killers. Robert Parrish was an overlooked player at Golden State though I often wondered why, because he did such a great job of guarding Kareem. Apparently, Red noticed that too. DJ was one of those players that you admired for giving so much effort and never rolling over. Even though he always played on teams that I rooted against as a Laker fan, I never felt anything negative toward him. A mark of true greatness, where even the opposing fans "respect" and "like" you.
You had to leave too soon!!!!!
:^(
~aw
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