ESPN.com - NBA - Former Celtics guard Dennis Johnson dies at 52 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2775430)

Former Boston Celtics guard Dennis Johnson, coach of the Celtics' team in the NBA Development League, collapsed during practice Thursday and died, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is reporting.

Johnson was 52.

Johnson was the MVP of the 1979 NBA Finals, averaging 22.6 points as his SuperSonics beat the Washington Bullets.

After a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson rejoined the Boston Celtics, where he teamed with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge and Robert Parish for a glorious run in the 1980s that saw Boston win the 1984 and 1986 NBA championships.

Known throughout the league as "DJ," Johnson played in five NBA All-Star games and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times.

Wow, that's tragic. When I watched a bit of Amir's D-League game that was on NBA TV in the last month or two, he was coaching the other team, and I remember thinking, "so that's what Dennis Johnson is doing these days."

One of my favorite players of his era and a class act.

Tragic.

I can still remember his face. Because he had some strange spots on it.
He was the guy that scored when Bird stole Zekes inbound pass in the 1987 conference finals.

I have to admit, he was my favorite Celtic. Too young to go.

Great article from SI.com (link courtesy of Truehoop)

SI.com - Writers - Jack McCallum: Implacable cool made D.J. special (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jack_mccallum/02/22/dennis.johnson.remembered/index.html?eref=si_nba) On a cold winter morning in 1986, Dennis Johnson and his Boston Celtics teammates stood outside of Market Square Arena, unable to get inside for a shootaround before their game that night against the Indiana Pacers. Johnson bundled his coat around him and pulled down his ski cap over his ears.

"Well, they locked us out," said Johnson, "so we'll just have to bust these mother----ers even worse than normal." He said it matter-of-factly and somewhat ruefully, as a statement of fact, and, of course, that's exactly what Boston did.

I have to admit, he was my favorite Celtic. Too young to go.

If I HAD to have a favorite Celtic, I'd pick DJ.

If I HAD to have a favorite Celtic, I'd pick DJ.

Quit speaking of the deceased like that, you guys!

Dennis Johnson IS and always will BE a Super Sonic!!!!

I have to admit, he was my favorite Celtic. Too young to go.


Too young to go is right. I am 52 and anyone my age or younger that loses his life due to heart attacks or heart disease scares me into rethinking how I am treating my body. Especially when I am away from home alot & on the road eating out and not getting enough rest and excercise. We got to take care of ourselves!!

I like BIll Waltons' eulogy, "DJ died because of a broken heart of not being nominated for the HOF last weekend."


RIP - MR DJ

Too young to go is right. I am 52 and anyone my age or younger that loses his life due to heart attacks or heart disease scares me into rethinking how I am treating my body. Especially when I am away from home alot & on the road eating out and not getting enough rest and excercise. We got to take care of ourselves!!

I like BIll Waltons' eulogy, "DJ died because of a broken heart of not being nominated for the HOF last weekend."


RIP - MR DJ
Yeah, but he did a lot of damage before he went down.

Quit speaking of the deceased like that, you guys!

Dennis Johnson IS and always will BE a Super Sonic!!!!



I hear ya DT.

Maybe we are showing our age, however, that backcourt of DJ and the wizard (Gus Williams) was awesome with the Sonics in the late 70`s early 80`s before DJ was traded to the Celtics.

DJ and the Sonics faced Wes Unseld and the then Washington Bullets in the Finals in `78 and `79. each winning one year.

He was a solid all aroung good guy and baller.