Kevin Johnson: Why isn’t this Phoenix Suns Legend in the HALL OF FAME? | FPP

He was a two sport star at the university of California, and led the Golden Bears to some of their most successful seasons decades. After a four year NCAA career, he was drafted 7th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers where it was looking like he would be stuck as a back up behind Mark Price. But luckily for Johnson, he was included in a midseason trade to Phoenix and would go on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history. His first four full seasons in Phoenix saw him average 20 points and 10 assists, and he would even join Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players to put up 20 points and 12 assists in a season. He and forward Tom Chambers spearheaded back to back trip to the Western Conference Finals for Phoenix in 1989 and 1990, but when It seemed like they needed something else to push them over the edge, they went out and got that something. The Suns signed Charles Barkley before the start of 1993 NBA season, but unfortunately, this would be the beginning of years of injury riddled basketball for Johnson as he went four seasons with an undiagnosed hernia. Even with his injuries, the Suns made it all the way to the Finals in 1993 and then had some good playoff showings in ’94 and ’95, with their ’95 semi-final series ending with Mario Elie’s Kiss of Death. After a disappointing ’96 season, Johnson’s hernia was discovered and repaired, but Barkley was gone to Houston and although the Suns would make some moves over the next few years to acquire guys like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Antonio McDyess, their window had closed and Johnson declined. He would retire in 1998 before making a brief comeback in 2000. But for his entire career, Johnson was one of the best dual threat point guards in the league with his ability to score and pass and even though injuries kept him out of a lot of regular season games, you could bet he would be ready come playoff time where he always elevated his game. Yet, he’s seldom talked about these days; has yet to be inducted into the hall of fame and was recently left off of the NBA’s 75th anniversary list, and that’s likely due to off the court issues that have come up in more recent years. But if you’re strictly looking at the playing career of Kevin Johnson, he was one of the best.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske02.html

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