American · Sacramento, California · Born 4 March 1966Three-time All-Star and the most explosive point guard of the early 1990s — Sacramento's beloved mayor after basketball.
Kevin Maurice Johnson was born in Sacramento, California in 1966. Cleveland Cavaliers selected him seventh overall in the 1987 NBA Draft before trading him to Phoenix in the deal that brought Larry Nance to Cleveland. His 12-season career — primarily with the Suns — produced 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game along with three All-Star appearances. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team three times. He averaged 22.5 points and 11.4 assists per game in 1994-95 — among the finest individual point guard seasons of the decade. He led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993 alongside Charles Barkley, losing to Chicago. His explosive first step — considered among the quickest in the league during his peak — combined with his scoring and playmaking ability made him one of the most difficult guards to contain in the early 1990s. A back condition progressively limited his availability in his later career. After retirement he became mayor of Sacramento, serving two terms from 2008 to 2016, and was involved in the effort to keep the Sacramento Kings in the city. He won a Grammy Award as a producer for a gospel album recorded during his basketball career.
Elite point guard play and leadership with Phoenix Suns
How They Played
Lightning-quick point guard with exceptional court vision
Lasting Impact
One of the fastest and most explosive point guards of the 1990s
Career Honours
- All-Star 3x
- All-NBA Second Team 3x
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1987–1988 | 82 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1998–2000 | 108 |
| Phoenix Suns | 1988–1998 | 735 |
American Athletes